SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND PRIMARY HEADACHE SYNDROMES IN A SAUDI COMMUNITY

Background and Purpose: There is increasing evidence that the pathophy siologic mechanisms are different between migraine and tension-type he adache. The aim of the study was to determine possible sociodemographi c differences in Saudi Arabia subjects with headache, Methodology: A c ommunity-based door-to-door survey with identification of headache cas es based on IHS criteria. A comparison of sociodemographic variables w as made between subjects with migraine and tension-type headache. Resu lts: Headache prevalence was 8% (95% CI = 7.3-8.7%) with a preponderan ce of tension-type headache (39%), Females were more often affected th an males (ratio 2:1). Migraine subjects were more often in the profess ional occupational group compared with tension-type headache (p < 0.05 ). Conclusion: Headache prevalence in the community was low. Subjects with migraine and tension-type headache were similar with respect to m any demographic variables, Occupational association needs verification in further studies.