title: Characteristics of the first 1000 headaches in an outpatient headache clinic registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the incidence and characteristics of the first 1000 headaches in an outpatient clinic.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Headache is a common cause of medical consultation, both in primary care and in specialist neurology outpatient clinics. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II), enables headaches to be classified in a precise and reproducible manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  In January 2008, an outpatient headache clinic was set up in Hospital Clínico Universitario, a tertiary hospital in Valladolid, Spain. Headaches were classified prospectively in accordance with ICHD-II criteria. In each case we recorded age and sex, duration of headache, ancillary tests required, and previous symptomatic or prophylactic therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In January 2010, the registry included 1000 headaches in 682 patients. The women/men ratio was 2.46/1 and the mean age of the patients was 43.19 ± 17.1 years (range: 14-94 years). Patients were referred from primary care (53.4%), general neurology clinics (36.6%), and other specialist clinics (9%). The headaches were grouped (ICHD-II classification) as follows: group 1 (Migraine), 51.4%; group 2 (Tension-type headache), 16%; group 3 (Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias), 2.6%; group 4 (Other primary headaches) and group 13 (Cranial neuralgias), 3.4%. The diagnostic criteria of chronic migraine were satisfied in 8.5% of migraines. Regarding secondary headaches, 1.1% of all cases were included in group 5 (Headaches attributed to trauma) and 8.3% in group 8 (Headaches attributed to a substance or its withdrawal). Only 3.4% of headaches were classified in group 14 (Unspecified or not elsewhere classified), and 5.2% were included in the groups listed in the ICHD-II research appendix.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This registry outlines the characteristics of patients seen in an outpatient headache clinic in a tertiary hospital; our results are similar to those previously reported for this type of outpatient clinic. Migraine was the most common diagnosis. Most headaches can be classified using ICHD-II criteria.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel L
authors.initials: ÁL
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peñas
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cortijo
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mulero
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D051303:Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics