Prevalence of migraine and non-migrainous headache - head-HUNT, a large population-based study

The objective of this study was to estimate the 1-year prevalence of the fo llowing categories of headache; migraine, non-migrainous headache, frequent headache (>6 days/month), and chronic headache (>14 days/month). Between 1 995 and 1997, all 92 566 inhabitants 20 years and older in Nord-Trondelag c ounty in Norway were invited to a comprehensive health study. Out of 64 560 participants, a total of 51 383 subjects (80%) completed a headache questi onnaire. The overall age-adjusted 1-year prevalence of headache was 38% (46 % in women and 30% in men). The prevalence of migraine was 12% (16% in wome n and 8% in men), and for non-migrainous headache 26% (30% in women and 22% in men). For frequent headache (> 6 days per month) and for chronic headac he (>14 days per month), the prevalence was 8% and 2%, respectively. Women had a higher prevalence than men in all age groups and for all headache cat egories. Prevalence peaked in the fourth decade of life for both men and wo men, except for 'frequent non-migrainous headache', which was nearly consta nt across all age groups in both genders. In accordance with findings in ot her western countries, we found that headache suffering, including migraine , was highly prevalent, especially in younger women.