OBJECTIVE: To determine the population-based prevalence of migraine in a cross-sectional random sample of Mexican Americans aged at least 45 years in San Diego County, California. BACKGROUND: The prevalence of migraine has been assessed in various populations in the United States and Mexico, but no study of migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans has been reported in the literature to date. DESIGN/ METHODS: Using an epidemiological cross-sectional research design, the population-based prevalence and associated descriptive epidemiology of self-reported migraine was estimated in Mexican Americans aged at least 45 years in San Diego County, California from a random sample of size 657. RESULTS: The lifetime migraine prevalence was 9.2% (95% confidence interval, 6.8 to 11.6) and current prevalence was 7.4% (95% confidence interval, 5.3 to 9.5). The prevalence of migraine was higher in women than in men, higher in low income groups than in high income groups, and decreased with increasing age. Prevalence among Mexican Americans born in Mexico was twice that of American-born Mexican Americans. CONCLUSIONS: These population-based data on migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans aged 45 and over contribute substantially to the understanding of this disease. A second study addressing migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans younger than 45 years in San Diego County will be reported.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the population-based prevalence of migraine in a cross-sectional random sample of Mexican Americans aged at least 45 years in San Diego County, California. BACKGROUND: The prevalence of migraine has been assessed in various populations in the United States and Mexico, but no study of migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans has been reported in the literature to date. DESIGN/ METHODS: Using an epidemiological cross-sectional research design, the population-based prevalence and associated descriptive epidemiology of self-reported migraine was estimated in Mexican Americans aged at least 45 years in San Diego County, California from a random sample of size 657. RESULTS: The lifetime migraine prevalence was 9.2% (95% confidence interval, 6.8 to 11.6) and current prevalence was 7.4% (95% confidence interval, 5.3 to 9.5). The prevalence of migraine was higher in women than in men, higher in low income groups than in high income groups, and decreased with increasing age. Prevalence among Mexican Americans born in Mexico was twice that of American-born Mexican Americans. CONCLUSIONS: These population-based data on migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans aged 45 and over contribute substantially to the understanding of this disease. A second study addressing migraine prevalence in Mexican Americans younger than 45 years in San Diego County will be reported.