Prevalence and management of headache in a selected area of Southern Santa Catarina

Abstract

Headache is a worldwide health problem which affects quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and management of headache and examine its impact. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with 240 participants was performed to collect data related to (a) headache occurrence, (b) its impact through the "Migraine Disability Assessment Test" (Midas), and (c) headache management. RESULTS: Last year prevalence (2008) was 64.6%. There was a low Midas score in 80.6% of cases. With regard to headache management, 86.4% of respondents said that they use medicines, mainly analgesics (73.9%). Prescribed medicines were used in 31.0% of cases, although 72.4% of those were old prescriptions. Headache was associated with gender (p=0.0002), occupation (p=0.0109) and mean age (p=0.0083), while the Midas score was associated with pain intensity (p=0.0069) and the use of drugs only during headache crisis (p=0.0464). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of headaches and a low level of disability among the population studied, being the management based on self-medication.