The Socio-demographic Profile,
Classification and the Clinical Profile
of Headache: A Semi-urban
Hospital Based Study
278-281
Correspondence
Dr. Niranjan M.R.
Dept. of Medicine, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hassan 573201, Karnataka, India.
Phone: 09448672501
E-mail: drniranjanmr@yahoo.co.in
Context: Migraine and tension type headache are the two most common types of primary headaches. In spite of the internationally accepted diagnostic criteria, it is not uncommon to face difficulties in diagnosing headache in the clinical practice. Aims: Our aim was to study the socio-demographic profile, classification and the clinical profile of headache patients who attended in a hospital which was located in a semi-urban setting.
Settings and Design: A prospective, cross-sectional study.
Methods and Materials: Patients mainly presented with the complaint of headache who were more than 12 years of age, were included in the study. The demographic details, the onset and the lifetime duration of the illness, the pattern of headache, the associated features and the family history were recorded. The international classification of headache disorders (ICHD), version 2 was applied.
Statistical Analysis: Descriptive analysis was done by using SPSS, version 17.0.
Results: 74% of the patients were females and 44% of them were between 29 and 44 years of age. Migraine was the most common disorder (182 patients), followed by tension type headache (99 patients) and cluster headache (3 patients).
Conclusion: A number of symptoms that are presently not included in the ICHD-2 classification may help in differentiating migraine from the tension type headache.