Headache epidemiology in Vitória, Espírito Santo

Abstract

-This is the first headache survey in the region of Vitória, ES Brazil. A high prevalence of headache sufferers was found (52.8%). Headache was more common among women (63.9%) and less common among people older than 55 years old. The type of professional activity was not related with the headache prevalence. The most frequent causal attribution was stress. Most headache sufferers are not under regular medical treatment (9%), and most of them use analgesic drugs without proper orientation. The most used compounds are combinations with caffeine (33%) and simple analgesics (52.3%).KEY WORDS: headache, prevalence, self medication. Epidemiologia da cefaléia em Vitória, Espírito SantoRESUMO -Este estudo é o primeiro a avaliar a prevalência da cefaléia na região de Vitória, ES. Demonstrouse alta prevalência de portadores de cefaléia (52,8%), com maior freqüência no sexo feminino (63,9%) e em pessoas com menos de 55 anos. Não houve diferença de prevalência em relação ao tipo de atividade profissional. O estresse foi apontado como o fator causal mais freqüente. Verificou-se que poucos portadores de cefaléia fazem acompanhamento médico regular (9%) e que a maioria usa medicamentos analgésicos sem orientação adequada, sendo os medicamentos mais utilizados combinações contendo cafeína (33%) e os analgésicos comuns (52,3%). PALAVRAS-CHAVE: cefaléia, prevalência, auto-medicação.The importance of primary headaches is related to the high frequency of headache disorders, considerable impact of headache on work and social activities, and to the consequences of a considerable consumption of drugs by headache sufferers Here we report the results of the first large epidemiological headache survey among inhabitants of the region of Great Vitória, Espírito Santo Brazil. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of headache symptoms, the causal attributions of headache, the medical assistance sought by the headache patients, and the pattern analgesic use reported by headache sufferers in this region of the country. METHODA questionnaire was administered by a group of medical students attending a specialized headache service. This questionnaire was randomly applied to Great Vitória region inhabitants, including the cities of Vitória, Vila Velha, Cariacica, and Serra. The interviewers have randomly selected people in public areas such as bus stations, schools, churches, supermarkets, banks, shopping centers, and sidewalks. Gender, age, and main occupation data were recorded. The individuals were grouped in three age groups: <30, 30-55, and >55 years. The occupation type was classified into the following categories: home, employed, liberal professional, unemployed, rested, or student. The prevalence of headache symptom was assessed asking if the individual consider him or herself as a headache sufferer. People answering no were not considered to have headache and no further questions were done. For the ones that considered him or herself as a headache sufferer the second question has evaluated the causal attributions of headach...

Prevalence and management of headache in a selected area of Southern Santa Catarina

“…The fact that active employees showed greater tendency to develop headaches than pensioners and retirees can suggest that they are more heavily exposed to triggering and aggravating factors. These factors include, for example, emotional stress in the workplace, which, however, was reported as irrelevant by Domingues and collaborators 12 .…”

“…In this study we chose to use the methodology employed by Domingues and collaborators 12 , interviewing people in public places of the municipality. The adoption of this methodology represented a limiting factor, since it is not a population-based study.…”

“…The use of medications, mainly common over-the-counter painkillers, was observed especially in acute crisis. The most frequently used drug was paracetamol, followed by dipyrone sodium, mentioned in various studies as the most common option for headache management 12,28 .…”

“…A cross-sectional study was carried out using interview technique in public places of Tubarão/SC, including squares, university, health care units, bus terminals, among others, as performed by Domingues and colaborators 12 . This method requires a convenience sample which was selected among the population of 92,569 inhabitants according to the census conducted by the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE) in 2007.…”

“…Because headaches interfere with daily life, a large number of patients seek treatment outside health care institutions, mainly through self-medication and advice from friends and family. In Vitoria/ES, it was observed that 69.9% of respondents with headache used common painkillers, among which sodium dipyrone (26.8%) and paracetamol (25.5%) 12 were the most frequently mentioned. In addition to pharmacological management, individuals may use non-pharmacological management, such as rest 13 , physiotherapy 14 and acupuncture 15 .…”