Prevalence of headache in the entire population of a small city in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the 1-year prevalence of headache, using face-to-face interviews of the entire population of a city in Brazil.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional, population-based study. We conducted face-to-face interviews of all individuals older than 10 years, in a town (Capela Nova) in Brazil. Prevalence of the headache was estimated using prevalence ratios, adjusted by gender, age, marital status, and level education.


RESULTS
The estimated 1-year prevalence of any headache was 65.4%. Headache was 1.5 times more prevalent in women and individuals aged 20 and 29, but less prevalent in the elderly and divorced. There was not association with the level of education.


CONCLUSIONS
From a public healthcare perspective, headache should be seen as hypertension and diabetes, and actively screened and treated.
University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais-Headache Clinic, Neurology Division, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Ariovaldo S
AS
Junior
Abouch
A
Krymchantowski
Pedro
P
Moreira
Luiz
L
Vasconcelos
Rodrigo
R
Gomez
Antonio
A
Teixeira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult