[Age as an independent risk factor for secondary headaches].
OBJECTIVE
To verify if the age is a risk factor for secondary headaches, regardless the time interval since the onset of the headache complaint.


METHODS
1131 patients were selected, with the main complaint of headache. The ratio of secondary headaches was evaluated and compared between young and elderly patients in general; between individuals with headache starting before and after 60 years of age; and between young and elderly subjects with headache having started for less than one year.


RESULTS
Elderly patients in general and individuals with headache having started after 60 years of age presented a higher ratio of secondary headaches than the young subjects and the ones whose pain started before 60 years of age. Elderly subjects with headache of recent start presented a higher ratio of secondary headaches than young individuals with the same time of pain evolution.


CONCLUSIONS
Age is an independent risk factor for secondary headaches, regardless the time interval since the onset of the complaint.
Souza
Jano Alves de
JA
Setor de Investigação de Cefaléia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Neterói, RJ, Brazil. janoasouza@terra.com.br
Moreira Filho
Pedro Ferreira
PF
Jevoux
Carla da Cunha
Cda C
Albertino
Sérgio
S
Sarmento
Elder Machado
EM
Brito
Cláudio Manoel
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors