Jon H Eliasson1, Ann I Scher2, Dawn C Buse3, Gretchen Tietjen4, Richard B Lipton2, Lenore J Launer5, Unnur A Valdimarsdottir6, Larus S Gudmundsson7. 1. Department of Neurology, Centralsjukhuset Kristianstad, Kristianstad, Sweden. 2. Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, USA. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, Toledo, USA. 5. Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA. 6. Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 7. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypnic headache. BACKGROUND: The exact prevalence of hypnic headache is unknown since there are no published population-based prevalence studies. METHODS: This study was a pilot for the SAGA cohort study, a population-based study on life stressors and various indices of health. Of 1398 invited adults, 921 (66%) participated; 402 men (average age 45.6 years, SD 13.2) and 519 women (52.6 years, SD 11.1). Subjects answered a headache questionnaire including a screening question for hypnic headache. "Do you have a headache that occurs only during sleep and causes wakening?". Diagnosis of hypnic headache was made by clinical interview using ICHD-3 criteria. RESULTS: Among 921 participants, six screened positive for hypnic headache, of those two 0.22% (95% CI 0.06-0.79%) had probable hypnic headache and none had definite hypnic headache. CONCLUSION: Confirming that hypnic headache is rare, these data suggest a 0.22% prevalence of probable hypnic headache.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypnic headache. BACKGROUND: The exact prevalence of hypnic headache is unknown since there are no published population-based prevalence studies. METHODS: This study was a pilot for the SAGA cohort study, a population-based study on life stressors and various indices of health. Of 1398 invited adults, 921 (66%) participated; 402 men (average age 45.6 years, SD 13.2) and 519 women (52.6 years, SD 11.1). Subjects answered a headache questionnaire including a screening question for hypnic headache. "Do you have a headache that occurs only during sleep and causes wakening?". Diagnosis of hypnic headache was made by clinical interview using ICHD-3 criteria. RESULTS: Among 921 participants, six screened positive for hypnic headache, of those two 0.22% (95% CI 0.06-0.79%) had probable hypnic headache and none had definite hypnic headache. CONCLUSION: Confirming that hypnic headache is rare, these data suggest a 0.22% prevalence of probable hypnic headache.