Prognosis of migraine and tension-type headache: a population-based follow-up study

• Published in: Neurology Vol. 65; no. 4; p. 580
• Main Authors: Lyngberg, Ann Christine, Rasmussen, Birthe Krogh, Jørgensen, Torben, Jensen, Rigmor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 23.08.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; Analgesics - adverse effects; Causality; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Progression; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Headache Disorders - chemically induced; Headache Disorders - diagnosis; Headache Disorders - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Marital Status - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders - diagnosis; Migraine Disorders - epidemiology; Migraine Disorders - physiopathology; Prognosis; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Tension-Type Headache - diagnosis; Tension-Type Headache - epidemiology; Tension-Type Headache - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1526-632X
• DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000172918.74999.8a

To determine the prognosis of migraine and tension-type headache and to identify prognostic factors. Of 740 persons (aged 25 to 64 years) examined in a 1989 Danish cross-sectional headache study, 673 were eligible for follow-up in 2001. All interviews at baseline and at follow-up were conducted by medical doctors and based on the 1988 IHS-criteria. A total of 549 persons (81.6%) participated in the follow-up study. Of 64 migraineurs at baseline, 42% had experienced remission, 38% had low migraine frequency, and 20% had more than 14 migraine days per year (poor outcome) at follow-up. Poor outcome was associated with high migraine frequency at baseline and age at onset younger than 20 years. Among 146 subjects with frequent episodic tension-type headache and 15 with chronic tension-type headache at baseline, 45% experienced infrequent or no tension-type headache (remission), 39% had frequent episodic tension-type headache, and 16% experienced chronic tension-type headache (poor outcome) at follow-up. Poor outcome was associated with baseline chronic tension-type headache, coexisting migraine, not being married, and sleeping problems. The prognosis of migraine, frequent episodic tension-type headache, and chronic tension-type headache was favorable.