[Headache among oldest old (+75 years): findings from 736 consecutive subjects in outpatient neurological clinic].
BACKGROUND
Although the elderly generally suffer less often from headache, many authors suggest that symptomatic headache and concomitant diseases could be more frequent. We performed a retrospective chart review of oldest old (+75 years) patients who seek medical attention from headache.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review (9 years) was carried on all oldest old subjects (> or =75 years) who were studied from outpatient neurological clinic. Headache diagnosis was made according to the new classification of the International Headache Society.


RESULTS
Seven hundred and thirty six patients were reviewed. 77,7% were females. Median age was 81,5 years (standard desviation: 5,3). This subjects were 1,7% from all consultations. 89,4% subjects suffered primary headaches. Tensional headache was the most frequent diagnosis. Serious causes were unusual. No patients had headache relationship with neoplasm or infections diseases. Only four subjects (0,6%) had temporal arteritis. Subjects with 81 years and more had less migraine and more Arnold's neuralgia (Greater occipital neuralgia).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, headache among oldest old had relationship with benign causes like tensional headache. Although serious causes like neoplasm or infections disease were not detected in our patients, temporal arteritis could be an important cause to screen from outpatient neurological clinic.
Pérez-Martínez
D
D
Unidad de Neurología y Neurofisiología, Programa de Neurogeriatría, Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja, Madrid. daperezm@yahoo.com
Puente-Muñoz
A
A
Anciones
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies