Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: Results of the German Headache Consortium Study

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of migraine (MIG) tension-type headache (TTH) and chronic headache in a population-based sample in Germany. A total of 18000 subjects aged between 18 and 65 years were screened from 2003 until 2005 using a validated questionnaire. Overall 9944 participants (55.2%) responded (mean age 43 ± 13.1 years 52.7% women). Headache frequency <15 days/ month was reported by 5350 (55.5%) subjects of whom 1601 (16.6% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 15.9- 17.4]) reported episodic MIG 1202 (12.5% 95% CI 11.8-13.1) episodic TTH and 1150 (11.9% [11.3-12.6]) episodic MIG + episodic TTH 1396 (14.5% [13.8-15.2]) unclassifiable headache. In women episodic MIG peaked between 36 and 40 years episodic MIG + TTH between 18 and 35 years and episodic TTH between 56 and 66 years. In men episodic MIG was predominant between 36 and 45 years episodic MIG + TTH between 26 and 35 years and episodic TTH showed comparable frequency between 36 and 66 years. Headache ≥15 days/month was reported by 2.6% (n = 255 [95% CI 2.3-3]). Chronic MIG was reported by 1.1% (n = 108 [0.91-1.33]) chronic TTH (n = 50 [95% CI 0.4-0.7]) chronic MIG + TTH 0.8% (n = 74 95%CI 0.6-0.9) and unclassifiable headache 0.2% (n = 23 [95% CI 0.1-0.3]). Chronic headache was more frequent in women compared to men with the highest prevalence between 46 and 65 years. It is of note that the number of subjects with chronic headache is small in all age groups. The results of our large population-based study provide reliable age- and sex-specific estimates of the prevalence of primary headache disorders in Germany. The prevalence with respect to episodic and chronic primary headache disorders in Germany is comparable to other European countries and the USA. © The Author(s) 2012.