Complementary and Conventional Medicine Use Among Youth With Recurrent Headaches

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify prevalence and patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among youth with recurrent headaches (HA) and evaluate associations with co-occurring health problems and limitations as well as with the use and expenditures for conventional medical care. METHODS: Variables were constructed for youth aged 10 to 17 by using linked data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey and the 2008 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey. Bivariate, logistic, and 2-part regression analyses were used. RESULTS: Of the 10.6% of youth experiencing HA, 29.6% used CAM, rising to 41% for the many HA sufferers who also experienced difficulties with emotions, concentration, behavior, school attendance, or daily activities. Biologically based products (16.2%) and mind-body therapies (13.3%) were most commonly used, especially by the 86.4% of youth with HA experiencing at least 1 other chronic condition. Compared with non-CAM users, youth with HA who used CAM also had higher expenditures for and use of most types of conventional care. CONCLUSIONS: CAM use is most common among youth with HA experiencing multiple chronic conditions and difficulties in daily functioning. Associations among CAM use, multiple chronic conditions, and higher use of conventional care highlight the need for medical providers to routinely ask about CAM use to meet the complex health needs of their patients and facilitate the optimal integration of care. Research is needed to identify models for coordinating complementary and conventional care within a medical home and to understand the health benefits or risks associated with CAM use in conjunction with conventional treatments for patients with HA.

What Factors Contribute to Headache-Related Disability in Teens?

“…Previous research suggests that among headache patients, use of mind-body therapies is second only to dietary supplements. 48 We were not surprised that participants reported using magnesium and riboflavin since these are adjunctive treatments recommended by many neurologists and other physicians for migraine headaches in adults; 49, 50 however, it was surprising that none of the adolescents in our sample reported using other commonly used herbs and supplements for headache such as butterbur, feverfew and Coenzyme Q10.…”

“…1, 2 Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common with prevalence rates ranging from 10 to 25 percent in school-aged children. 3 Migraine headaches are somewhat less common with prevalence ranging from about 3 percent in younger school-aged children to nearly 20 percent in older adolescents.…”

A critical review of manual therapy use for headache disorders: prevalence, profiles, motivations, communication and self-reported effectiveness

“…While findings varied for level of income [58, 70] and level of education, [70, 72, 73] this patient group were more likely to be older [70, 72], female [20], have a higher rate of comorbid conditions [58, 70, 76] and a higher rate of previous medical visits [20, 58, 70] when compared to the non-user group. Overall, this group were reported to have a higher level of headache chronicity or headache disability than non-users [20, 54, 58, 70, 72, 77].…”

Correlates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in a Pediatric Tertiary Pain Center

“…13 In a recent study looking at CAM use in children with recurrent headaches, children who experience headaches are 2.1 times more likely to use CAM. 14 Other studies have found that CAM use was higher in those with a chronic medical condition such as cancer, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and sickle cell anemia compared to the general population. 15 …”