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Prevalence and Incidence of Headache in Adolescent Finnish Twins
Author(s) -
Virtanen Ruut,
Aromaa Minna,
Koskenvuo Markku,
Sillanpää Matti,
Rose Richard J.,
Metsähonkala Liisa,
Helenius Hans,
Anttila Pirjo,
Kaprio Jaakko
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2009.01528.x
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , demography , pediatrics , age groups , young adult , physics , sociology , optics
Objectives.— The study aim was to determinate changes in prevalence and incidence rates of headache among adolescent Finnish twins. Methods.— Questionnaire data were collected during 1994‐1998 from a nationwide sample of Finnish families of 11‐year‐old twins who were born between 1983 and 1987 (n = 6262) and again at ages of 14 and 17. Results.— During follow‐up, the prevalence of regular headache (ie, at least once a month = RHA) increased from 59% at age 11 to 65% at age 14 and decreased to 63% at age 17. Among boys the prevalence of RHA increased significantly from 59% at age 11 to 62% at age 14 decreasing to 52% at age 17. Among girls the prevalence rates increased significantly between ages of 11 and 14 from 60% to 68% up to 74% at age 17. The prevalence of weekly headache increased in girls between ages of 11 and 14 from 16% to 25%. Incidence of RHA (at least once a month) decreased from 47% at age 14 to 44% at age 17 in girls and from 44% at age 14 to 30% at age 17 in boys. Conclusions.— RHA is more common in girls than boys during puberty, while the incidence of RHA declined especially in boys during same age period.