INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the commonest causes of consultation in neurology. There are many studies of the prevalence of migraine showing considerable variation in the results obtained. OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of migraine, with and without an aura, by means of a randomized transverse study carried out in a previously selected rural population, using the validated questionnaire 'Alcoi-92'. To find the overall prevalence of migraine, specifically regarding age and sex and adjusted for the European population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A door-to-door study was made by random selection of 790 persons aged over 18, in three towns in the comarca del Comtat, Alacant, Spain. A self-questionnaire was sent to all persons studies and subsequently they were seen by a medical interviewer. RESULTS: We interviewed 548 persons (overall response rate 78%). The average age was 52.5 +/- 19.3 years. Sex distribution of the population interviewed showed a predominance of females (52.9%) as compared to males (47.1%). According to the type of headache: other types of headache 62.32%, persons with no previous history of headache 20.07%, amplified migraine 16.6%, typical migraine 12.6%, cluster type migraine 0.18%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of amplified migraine was 16.6%. According to diagnostic groups the frequency of migraine with aura was 2.9%, migraine without aura 9.7% and typical migraine 12.6%. A predominance of women was seen in all types of migraine. The frequency of migraine, adjusted for the European population was 19.6%. Prevalence during the past year, as a measure of activity of the disorder was 15.7%.
INTRODUCTION:Headache is one of the commonest causes of consultation in neurology. There are many studies of the prevalence of migraine showing considerable variation in the results obtained. OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of migraine, with and without an aura, by means of a randomized transverse study carried out in a previously selected rural population, using the validated questionnaire 'Alcoi-92'. To find the overall prevalence of migraine, specifically regarding age and sex and adjusted for the European population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A door-to-door study was made by random selection of 790 persons aged over 18, in three towns in the comarca del Comtat, Alacant, Spain. A self-questionnaire was sent to all persons studies and subsequently they were seen by a medical interviewer. RESULTS: We interviewed 548 persons (overall response rate 78%). The average age was 52.5 +/- 19.3 years. Sex distribution of the population interviewed showed a predominance of females (52.9%) as compared to males (47.1%). According to the type of headache: other types of headache 62.32%, persons with no previous history of headache 20.07%, amplified migraine 16.6%, typical migraine 12.6%, cluster type migraine 0.18%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of amplified migraine was 16.6%. According to diagnostic groups the frequency of migraine with aura was 2.9%, migraine without aura 9.7% and typical migraine 12.6%. A predominance of women was seen in all types of migraine. The frequency of migraine, adjusted for the European population was 19.6%. Prevalence during the past year, as a measure of activity of the disorder was 15.7%.