BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Headache occurs worldwide, but documentation on the burden of headache in Saudi communities is quite limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of primary headache in a rural community in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A door-to-door survey of subjects older than 15 years of age was used for completion of a structured questionnaire to determine headache types based on defined criteria. Physical examination was used to exclude secondary causes. RESULTS: Of 5891 inhabitants, 473 suffered from headaches. The crude lifetime prevalence rate was 8% (95% Cl, 7.3% to 8.7%) and with age adjustment was 9.3% (8.6% to 10%). Headache sufferers were predominantly women. The age-specific rate increased progressively, peaking in the sixth decade. Tension-type headache diagnosed in 185 subjects predominated (3.1%), while the prevalence of migraine was 2.6%. CONCLUSION: The findings agree with the reported prevalence of 10% to 12% in other communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but lower than the rates in Western countries. The lower rates are probably related to sociocultural factors.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Headache occurs worldwide, but documentation on the burden of headache in Saudi communities is quite limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of primary headache in a rural community in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A door-to-door survey of subjects older than 15 years of age was used for completion of a structured questionnaire to determine headache types based on defined criteria. Physical examination was used to exclude secondary causes. RESULTS: Of 5891 inhabitants, 473 suffered from headaches. The crude lifetime prevalence rate was 8% (95% Cl, 7.3% to 8.7%) and with age adjustment was 9.3% (8.6% to 10%). Headache sufferers were predominantly women. The age-specific rate increased progressively, peaking in the sixth decade. Tension-type headache diagnosed in 185 subjects predominated (3.1%), while the prevalence of migraine was 2.6%. CONCLUSION: The findings agree with the reported prevalence of 10% to 12% in other communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but lower than the rates in Western countries. The lower rates are probably related to sociocultural factors.
Authors: Sanjay Prakash; Nivedita C Mehta; Ajay S Dabhi; Om Lakhani; Madhuri Khilari; Nilima D Shah Journal: J Headache Pain Date: 2010-05-13 Impact factor: 7.277
Authors: Salah A Abdo; Mohammed Amood Al-Kamarany; Karem H Alzoubi; Mohamed T Al-Maktari; Abdulrhman H Al-Baidani Journal: Neurol Res Int Date: 2014-11-05
Authors: Ashraf El-Metwally; Paivi Toivola; Khalid AlAhmary; Salwa Bahkali; Ali AlKhathaami; Shatha A Al Ammar; Ibrahim M Altamimi; Saleh M Alosaimi; Munazza Jawed; Sami Almustanyir Journal: ScientificWorldJournal Date: 2020-06-16