Sociodemographic factors and primary headache syndromes in a Saudi community.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence that the pathophysiologic mechanisms are different between migraine and tension-type headache. The aim of the study was to determine possible sociodemographic differences in Saudi Arabia subjects with headache.

METHODOLOGY: A community-based door-to-door survey with identification of headache cases based on IHS criteria. A comparison of sociodemographic variables was made between subjects with migraine and tension-type headache.

RESULTS

Headache prevalence was 8% (95% CI = 7.3-8.7%) with a preponderance of tension-type headache (39%). Females were more often affected than males (ratio 2:1). Migraine subjects were more often in the professional 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 many demographic variables. Occupational association needs verification in further studies.