Cervicogenic headache in the general population: the Akershus study of chronic headache.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to study the prevalence of cervicogenic headache (CEH) in the general population.


METHODS
An age- and gender-stratified random sample of 30,000 persons aged 30-44 years received a mailed questionnaire. Those with self-reported chronic headache were interviewed by neurological residents. The criteria of the Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group and the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition, were applied.


RESULTS
The questionnaire response rate was 71% and the participation rate of the interview was 74%. The prevalence of CEH was 0.17% in the general population, with a female preponderance. Fifty per cent had co-occurrence of medication overuse and 42% had co-occurrence of migraine. The pericranial muscle tenderness score was significantly higher on the pain than non-pain side (p < .005). The cervical range of motion was significantly reduced compared to healthy controls (p < .005). The mean duration of CEH was eight years. Based on patients' self-reports, greater occipital nerve (GON) blockage and cryotherapy was reported effective in 90% of those who had this procedure, while other treatment alternatives were reported less effective.
Innlandet Hospital, Norway. heidi.knackstedt@sykehuset-innlandet.no
Heidi
H
Knackstedt
Dalius
D
Bansevicius
Kjersti
K
Aaseth
Ragnhild Berling
RB
Grande
Christofer
C
Lundqvist
Michael Bjørn
MB
Russell
D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051298:Post-Traumatic Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires