title: Prevalence and clinical features of migraine in a population of visually impaired subjects in Curitiba, Brazil.
abstract: To investigate the relevance of lacking or diminished visual input on the expression of migraine, we evaluated its prevalence and clinical features in a population of visually impaired subjects. Between September 1999 and April 2000, 203 visually impaired subjects with a headache inventory were surveyed. Those with headache were assessed according to IHS criteria for the presence of migraine. Migraineurs had their symptoms further detailed through an interview and a headache diary. Of the 104 subjects reporting headaches during the last 6 months, 29 had migraine (14.2%). The prevalence of migraine was not influenced by whether the visual impairment was complete or partial. Mean frequency of migraine attacks was 2.7/month. Most subjects (96%) reported severe and/or moderate attacks. Nausea, vomiting, aggravation by activity and phonophobia were reported by 62%, 37.9%, 86.2% and 96.6% of the subjects, respectively. Visual impairment does not seem to influence prevalence of migraine or its clinical features.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. cefaleia@hc.ufpr.br
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kowacs
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Piovesan
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Werneck
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tatsui
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scapucin
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities