Prevalence of migraine headaches in the Romany population in Spain: sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and co-morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of migraine headaches in the Romany population with the prevalence in the general Spanish population and to describe its association with demographic and clinical risk factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using data from the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey (n = 16,079) and the National Health Survey in the Romany Population (n = 993). Inclusion criteria were migraine headache diagnosed by a neurologist, suffered over the preceding 2 weeks that reduced work or leisure activity by half a day or more.


RESULTS
The prevalence of migraine in the Romany population (29.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 26.48-32.53) was significantly higher than in the general Spanish population (12.52%, 95% CI = 11.85-13.22). Females (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.10-2.21), those ≤40 years old (OR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.78-9.62), those sleeping ≤8 hours/day or less (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.32-2.59), those with body mass index >30 kg/m(2) (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.15-2.65), those suffering from osteoarthritis (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.54-4.36), and those suffering from allergy (OR = 1.69, CI = 1.05-2.71) were associated with higher incidence of migraines. Romanies with migraines reported worse self-perceived health status (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.41-3.15) and higher incidence of depression (OR = 2.09 95% CI = 1.32-3.30) than those without.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of migraines is greater in the Romany living in Spain than in the general Spanish population.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health systems should focus prevention campaigns specifically on this population and concentrate on those factors that are potentially modifiable.
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Silvia
S
Jiménez-Sánchez
César
C
Fernández-de-las-Peñas
Rodrigo
R
Jiménez-García
Valentín
V
Hernández-Barrera
Cristina
C
Alonso-Blanco
Domingo
D
Palacios-Ceña
Pilar
P
Carrasco-Garrido
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult