Prevalence of headache in a representative sample of the population in a French department (Haute-Vienne-Limousin).

In 1986-1987, a neuroepidemiologic survey was undertaken to study the prevalence of the most frequently encountered neurologic disorders, and in particular headache, in a representative sample of the population in the Haute-Vienne Department (Limousin). A door-to-door survey was made using a protocol developed by the W.H.O. at the beginning of the 1980's. The calculated prevalences (according to Poisson's distribution) per 100,000 inhabitants were 5,059 for nonmigraine headache, and 4,270 for migraine headache. This disorder preferentially affected young adults and essentially involved females. It was the most frequently encountered disorder (50%) during the different surveys of similar methodology.