Prevalence and Sex-Ratio of the Subtypes of Migraine

• Published in: International journal of epidemiology 1995-06, Vol.24 (3), p.612-618
• Main Authors: RUSSELL, MICHAEL BJØRN, RASMUSSEN, BIRTHE KROGH, THORVALDSEN, PER, OLESEN, JES
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Denmark - epidemiology; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Migraine Disorders - classification; Migraine Disorders - diagnosis; Migraine Disorders - epidemiology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Prevalence; Random Allocation; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0300-5771; 1464-3685
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/24.3.612

Background. The aim of this study was to provide the prevalence and sex-ratio of subtypes of migraine diagnosed by neurological interview according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. Methods. In all, 3000 males and 1000 females aged 40 years were randomly selected from the Danish population. They received a mailed questionnaire regarding migraine. The questionnaire response rate was 87%. People with self-reported migraine and a random sample of those reporting no migraine were invited to a headache interview, and a physical and a neurological examination. Those not reacting to the invitation were interviewed by telephone. Participation at the interview was 87%. Kappa was 0.77 validating self-reported migraine in the questionnaire against the diagnosis of the clinical interview. Results. Lifetime prevalences of migraine without aura, migraine with aura, migraine aura without headache, and migraine disorder were 8%, 4%, 1% and 1% in males and 16%, 7%, 3% and 2% in females. Overall lifetime prevalence of any type of migraine was 18%; 12% in males and 24% in females. This is lower than the sum of the prevalences since migraine diagnoses are not mutually exclusive. The male:female ratios of migraine without aura, migraine with aura, migraine aura without headache, and migrainous disorder were approximately 1:2. Conclusions. Migraine is more prevalent than previously thought. There was a significant preponderance in females of all the subtypes of migraine except migrainous disorder.