Are infrequent episodic, frequent episodic and chronic tension-type headache inherited? A population-based study of 11 199 twin pairs.
The objective was to investigate the importance of genetic and environmental factors for infrequent episodic, frequent episodic and chronic tension-type headache. Twin pairs recruited from the population-based Danish Twin Registry received a posted questionnaire. Only twin pairs where both twins replied were included. A total of 3523 monozygotic (MZ), 4150 dizygotic (DZ) same-gender and 3526 DZ opposite-gender twin pairs were included. The prevalence of frequent episodic and chronic tension-type headache was significantly more frequent in women than men, and significantly higher in those with co-occurrence of migraine. The concordance rates were significantly higher in MZ than same-gender DZ twin pairs with no or frequent episodic tension-type headache, while the difference was not significant in chronic tension-type headache. The concordance rates of infrequent episodic tension-type headache in MZ and same-gender DZ twin pairs was significantly different in women but not in men, although the difference was small in both genders. We conclude that genetic factors play a role in no and frequent episodic tension-type headache, while infrequent episodic tension-type headache is caused primarily by environmental factors. The data regarding chronic tension-type headache were limited, so no firm conclusion could be drawn.
Russell
Michael Bjørn
MB
Head and Neck Research Group, Akershus University Hospital, Dr. Kobros vei 39, 1474 Nordbyhagen, Oslo, Norway. m.b.russell@medisin.uio.no
Saltyte-Benth
Jūrate
J
Levi
Niels
N
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic