Characteristics of migraine in an out-patient population over 60 years of age.
One hundred and sixty-three consecutive patients (129 females and 34 males) over 60 years of age attending the Headache Centre of the University of Perugia in the period January 2000-December 2001 were included in the study. One hundred and fifty-two (93.3%) were affected by a primary headache disorder. According to the 1988 IHS Criteria, their prevailing attacks could be diagnosed as migraine without aura (MwoA) in 57.2% of cases (n = 87) and as migraine with aura (MwA) in 11.8% of cases (n = 18). Attacks both in MwoA and MwA were unilateral and of severe-to-moderate intensity in 45% and 50% of cases. Head pain was referred as pulsating by 56% and 38.9% of MwoA patients MwA patients, respectively. Aggravation with routine daily activities was present in 72.4% and 61.1% in MwoA and MwA patient groups. The most frequent accompanying symptoms were photophobia and phonophobia. Headache attacks were of shorter duration in MwA patients, but in 3.4% of MwoA patients attacks lasted between 2 and 4 h. Of patients affected by MwA, 55% referred, together with the typical attacks, symptoms of aura not followed by headache. A worsening of headache in the last 5 years was reported by 67.8% and 44.4% of MwoA and MwA patients, respectively. Of the patients with MwoA, 86.2% (n = 75), and 83.3% (n = 15) of those with MwA used symptomatic drugs for their attacks. In the majority of cases they took more than one analgesic or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. A total of 51.7% of patients with MwoA and 55.5% of patients with MwA were under prophylactic treatment. Preventive drugs included antidepressants, beta-blockers, calcium channel antagonists and antiepileptic drugs. The choice of symptomatic or prophylactic drugs was made, in the majority of cases, on the basis of concomitant diseases.
Department of Neuroscience, University of Perugia, Italy.
G
G
Mazzotta
V
V
Gallai
A
A
Alberti
A M R
AM
Billeci
F
F
Coppola
P
P
Sarchielli
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000700:Analgesics