Validation of a German Language Questionnaire for Screening for Migraine, Tension‐Type Headache, and Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias

We investigated the prevalence of migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH), and chronic headache in a population-based sample in Germany. A total of 18,000 subjects aged between 18 and 65 years were screened from 2003 until 2005 using a validated questionnaire. Overall 9,944 participants (55.2%) responded (mean age 43 ± 13.1 years, 52.7% women). Headache frequency <15 days/month was reported by 5,350 (55.5%) subjects of whom 1,601 (16.6%, [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 15.9–17.4]) reported episodic MIG, 1,202 (12.5%, 95% CI 11.8–13.1) episodic TTH, and 1,150 (11.9%, [11.3–12.6]) episodic MIG + episodic TTH, 1,396 (14.5%, [13.8–15.2]) unclassifiable headache. In women, episodic MIG peaked between 36 and 40 years, episodic MIG + TTH between 18 and 35 years and episodic TTH between 56 and 66 years. In men, episodic MIG was predominant between 36 and 45 years, episodic MIG + TTH between 26 and 35 years and episodic TTH showed comparable frequency between 36 and 66 years. Headache ≥15 days/month was reported by 2.6% (n = 255, [95% CI 2.3–3]). Chronic MIG was reported by 1.1% (n = 108, [0.91–1.33]), chronic TTH (n = 50, [95% CI 0.4–0.7]), chronic MIG + TTH 0.8% (n = 74, 95% CI 0.6–0.9) and unclassifiable headache 0.2% (n = 23, [95% CI 0.1–0.3]). Chronic headache was more frequent in women compared to men with the highest prevalence between 46 and 65 years. It is of note that the number of subjects with chronic headache is small in all age groups. The results of our large, population-based study provide reliable, age- and sex-specific estimates of the prevalence of primary headache disorders in Germany. The prevalence with respect to episodic and chronic primary headache disorders in Germany is comparable to other European countries and the USA.

show abstract

“…A false negative rate around 15% is compatible with the sensitivities of our questionnaire for MIG (0.73) and TTH (0.85) [4, 9]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…The results of the validation were reported elsewhere [4, 9]. First, the participants were asked if they experienced any kind of headache in the last year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German Headache Consortium Study

Katsarava

Obermann

et al. 2012

J Headache Pain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The preliminary data suggest, however, that our questionnaire is comparable in quality with others reported in the international literature. The sensitivity and specificity values are quite similar to those of the German version [3]. Several other validated headache questionnaires exist, most of them constructed as screening instruments for migraine and consisting of 3-8 items based on the IHS criteria [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…We adapted a questionnaire that had been used and validated for epidemiological headache research in Germany [3]. It was translated from German into the Georgian language by ZK.…”

Section: Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

A pilot methodological validation study for a population-based survey of the prevalences of migraine, tension-type headache and chronic daily headache in the country of Georgia

et al. 2007

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We report the methodology of an epidemiological survey of the prevalences of migraine, tension-type headache and chronic daily headache in Georgia. Medical residents visited adjacent households in Tbilisi to interview a pre-defined target of 100 biologically unrelated subjects. All respondents reporting headache in the previous year, as well as random 20 non-headache controls, were examined by a neurologist. The response rate was 70%. Of 156 respondents, 93 were biologically unrelated and 45 (48%) reported headache in the previous year. Eight subjects fulfilled all IHS criteria for migraine (1-year prevalence 8.6% [95% CI: 2.9-14.3%]), and 13 had probable migraine, meeting all but the criterion for duration. Nineteen had tension-type headache (20.4% [95% CI: 12.2-28.6%]) and five had chronic daily headache (5.4% [95% CI: 1-10.0%]). In comparisons of diagnoses by questionnaire and neurologist (considered the gold standard), sensitivities for the questionnaire of 89% for migraine and 67% for tension-type headache were calculated (overall kappa=0.74).

show abstract

“…Briefly, we first translated and adapted the diagnostic headache questionnaire of the German Headache Consortium [3] and presented it to several patients. Next, medical residents performed a door-to-door survey presenting the questionnaire to 153 members of consecutive households.…”

Section: Introduction We Present the Validation Of A Headache Questiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a Georgian language headache questionnaire in a population-based sample

et al. 2007

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In a pilot phase of a survey of the prevalence of primary headache disorders in the Republic of Georgia, we validated a Georgian language questionnaire for migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH), MIG+TTH and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC). A population-based sample of 186 people with headache completed the questionnaire and were blindly examined by one of two headache experts. The questionnaire diagnoses were: MIG 49, TTH 76, MIG+TTH 45 and TAC 16. The physicians’diagnoses were: MIG 59, TTH 77, MIG+TTH 34, TAC 2 and “symptomatic headache” in 14 subjects. Sensitivity and specificity for MIG were 0.75 and 0.96, for TTH 0.79 and 0.86, and for MIG+TTH 0.61 and 0.84 respectively. Of 16 TAC diagnoses, the physicians confirmed cluster headache in two patients only. The questionnaire can be utilised to investigate the prevalence of MIG and of TTH. It offers preliminary screening only for TAC, which should be confirmed during a face to face examination.

show abstract

Validation of a German Language Questionnaire for Screening for Migraine, Tension‐Type Headache, and Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias

Abstract: We present the first questionnaire in German language including 3 most common primary headaches for use in epidemiological research.

Cited by 63 publications

References 15 publications

Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German Headache Consortium Study

Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German Headache Consortium Study

A pilot methodological validation study for a population-based survey of the prevalences of migraine, tension-type headache and chronic daily headache in the country of Georgia

Validation of a Georgian language headache questionnaire in a population-based sample

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About