title: Epidemiology of headache in an English district.
abstract: Headache prevalence, characteristics and impact in adults were measured using a cross-sectional general population survey in North Staffordshire, UK. A postal survey was mailed out to 4885 adults (aged > or = 18 years) with an adjusted response rate of 56% (n = 2662). Of respondents 93% reported headache ever and 70% in the last 3 months. Women and younger people reported higher headache prevalences. Of those reporting headache in the last 3 months, 23% experienced headache at least weekly and 16% experienced severe headache pain. Headaches affected work, home or social activities in 43% of sufferers and 20% reported at least moderate headache-related disability. Higher levels of disability were associated with higher levels of pain, 61% with severe disability reporting severe pain compared with 13% who had mild or moderate disability. In the total adult population sample headache affected more than two-thirds in the last 3 months and 14% of all adults reported headache-related disability of at least moderate level, which translates to a large burden in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicines Management and Primary Care Sciences Research Centre, Keele University, UK. h.f.boardman@keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Millson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class