Outcome of Headache Frequency in Adolescence

Abstract

Only a few studies have been published of the outcome of adolescent headache (HA). The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of the outcome of headache frequency. A population-based sample of 13-year-olds with or without HA (N=228) was followed to the age of 16 years. HA was classified on the basis of a face-to-face interview and clinical examination. The outcomes of monthly HA (>1/month) and non-frequent HA (0-1/month) were studied. Frequent use of analgesics, female gender and multiple non-headache pain predicted the persistence of monthly HA (>1/month). Significant predictors for worsening non-frequent HA (from 0 to 1/month to >1/month) were female gender, consistent migraine and high basic educational level of one parent. Adolescents frequently using analgesics constitute a risk group for a poor outcome of HA. Especially girls meeting this criterion should be considered a target group in the planning and implementing of preventive measures.

The Comorbidity of Headache With Other Pain Syndromes

“…Congruent results were found in a small population‐based study of 288 students followed‐up from age 13 to 16 in Turku, Finland. In these children, the presence of comorbid non‐headache pain at baseline was a negative prognostic factor for headache remission 27 . A population‐based cohort of 1046 children aged 11 to 14 from 39 schools in the Northwest of England, initially free of low back pain, were followed‐up for 1 year 28 .…”

Lay Trainers With Migraine for a Home‐Based Behavioral Training: A 6‐Month Follow‐Up Study

“…However, conclusions about predictors cannot be taken because these studies reported a variety of outcome variables such as headache severity or percentage improvement. In addition, knowledge on the predictors of our primary outcome, attack frequency, is scarce and mainly available from prospective epidemiological studies 13‐15 . These studies indicated that medication overuse, female gender, presence of other pain symptoms, and depression increased the probability of having frequent attacks.…”

Cognitive processing styles of children and adolescents with headache and back pain: a longitudinal epidemiological study

“…Other studies investigated only correlations between these variables in a cross-sectional study design 30,31. Studies that employed a longitudinal design investigated potential predictors that were not the focus of the present study 32,33…”