BACKGROUND: Case definitions of medication-overuse headache (MOH) in population-based research have changed over time. This study aims to review MOH prevalence reports with respect to these changes, and to propose a practical case definition for future studies based on the ICHD-3 beta. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify MOH prevalence studies. Findings were summarized according to diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included. The commonly used case definition for MOH was headache ≥15 days/month with concurrent medication overuse ≥3 months. There were varying definitions for what was considered as overuse. Studies that all used ICHD-2 criteria showed a wide range of prevalence among adults: 0.5%-7.2%. CONCLUSIONS: There are limits to comparing prevalence of MOH across studies and over time. The wide range of reported prevalence might not only be due to changing criteria, but also the diversity of countries now publishing data. The criterion "headache occurring on ≥15 days per month" with concurrent medication overuse can be applied in population-based studies. However, the new requirement that a respondent must have "a preexisting headache disorder" has not been previously validated. Exclusion of other headache diagnoses by expert evaluation and ancillary examinations is not feasible in large population-based studies.
BACKGROUND: Case definitions of medication-overuse headache (MOH) in population-based research have changed over time. This study aims to review MOH prevalence reports with respect to these changes, and to propose a practical case definition for future studies based on the ICHD-3 beta. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify MOH prevalence studies. Findings were summarized according to diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included. The commonly used case definition for MOH was headache ≥15 days/month with concurrent medication overuse ≥3 months. There were varying definitions for what was considered as overuse. Studies that all used ICHD-2 criteria showed a wide range of prevalence among adults: 0.5%-7.2%. CONCLUSIONS: There are limits to comparing prevalence of MOH across studies and over time. The wide range of reported prevalence might not only be due to changing criteria, but also the diversity of countries now publishing data. The criterion "headache occurring on ≥15 days per month" with concurrent medication overuse can be applied in population-based studies. However, the new requirement that a respondent must have "a preexisting headache disorder" has not been previously validated. Exclusion of other headache diagnoses by expert evaluation and ancillary examinations is not feasible in large population-based studies.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chronic headache; International Classification of Headache Disorders; classification; epidemiology; medication-overuse headache; prevalence
Authors: Chonlawan Saengjaroentham; Lauren C Strother; Isaac Dripps; Mohammad Rayhan Sultan Jabir; Amynah Pradhan; Peter J Goadsby; Philip R Holland Journal: Brain Date: 2020-09-01 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: Timothy J Steiner; Rigmor Jensen; Zaza Katsarava; Lars Jacob Stovner; Derya Uluduz; Latifa Adarmouch; Mohammed Al Jumah; Ali M Al Khathaami; Messoud Ashina; Mark Braschinsky; Susan Broner; Jon H Eliasson; Raquel Gil-Gouveia; Juan B Gómez-Galván; Larus S Gudmundsson; Akbar A Herekar; Nfwama Kawatu; Najib Kissani; Girish Baburao Kulkarni; Elena R Lebedeva; Matilde Leonardi; Mattias Linde; Otgonbayar Luvsannorov; Youssoufa Maiga; Ivan Milanov; Dimos D Mitsikostas; Teymur Musayev; Jes Olesen; Vera Osipova; Koen Paemeleire; Mario F P Peres; Guiovanna Quispe; Girish N Rao; Ajay Risal; Elena Ruiz de la Torre; Deanna Saylor; Mansoureh Togha; Sheng-Yuan Yu; Mehila Zebenigus; Yared Zenebe Zewde; Jasna Zidverc-Trajković; Michela Tinelli Journal: J Headache Pain Date: 2021-07-21 Impact factor: 7.277