Headache prevalence in the population of L’Aquila (Italy) after the 2009 earthquake

Abstract

Stress induced by the events of daily life is considered a major factor in pathogenesis of primary tension-type headache. Little is known about the impact that could have a more stressful event, like a natural disaster, both in patients with chronic headache, both in people that do not had headache previously. The aim of the present study was to observe the prevalence of headache in the population following the devastating earthquake that affected the province of L’Aquila on April 6, 2009. The study population was conducted in four tent cities (Onna, Bazzano, Tempera-St. Biagio, Paganica). Sanitary access is recorded in the registers of medical triage, in the first 5 weeks, after the April 6, 2009. The prevalence of primary headache presentation was 5.53% (95% CI 4.2–7.1), secondary headache was 2.82% (95% CI 1.9–4.9). Pain intensity, assessed by Numerical Rating Scale score showed a mean value of 7 ± 1.1 (range 4–10). The drugs most used were the NSAIDs (46%) and paracetamol (36%), for impossibility of finding causal drugs. This study shows how more stressful events not only have an important role in determining acute exacerbation of chronic headache, but probably also play a pathogenic role in the emergence of primary headache. Also underlines the lack of diagnostic guidelines or operating protocols to early identify and treat headache in the emergency settings.

Pain after earthquake

“…Two painful conditions with double presentation, acute and relapsed, the primary headache and the low back pain, were pathologies with a considerable prevalence and severity, having a multi-factorial pathogenesis compared to other pain conditions [30,31]. …”

Influence of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake and Its Aftershocks on the Response to Prophylactic Therapy with Lomerizine in Patients with Migraine in Tokyo: A Retrospective Study

“…In contrast to migraine, the occurrence rate of tension-type headache (TTH, 38.6%) decreased [7]. On the other hand, Guetti et al [23] reported that the occurrence rate of TTH and migraine was 70 and 11%, respectively, among patients presenting to emergency rooms with primary headache (except secondary headache) after the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake (Italy). Differences in the geographical area (country), the different timing of observation, and the environment may have caused this discrepancy in patients with headache.…”

Frequency of headache in oncology patients undergoing radiotherapy

“…Висока учесталост приписује се савременом начину живота, културолошким разликама, социјалном статусу, географском региону и климатским факторима [4,5,7]. Фактори ризика за настанак главобоља повезани су са полом, старости, генетским факторима, конзумирањем цигарета, кафе и алкохола, гојазности, образовањем, недостатаком физичке активности, честом употребом аналгетика [5,[7][8][9][10][11]. Један од могућих фактора ризика за настанак главобоља може бити и дефицит витамина Д [5].…”

“…Циљ студије јесте да се утврди учесталост главобоља код онколошких пацијента који се подвргавају радиотерапији. За разлику од других студија [5,[7][8][9][10][11], наша студија је показала да се код онколошких пацијената главобоља чешће јављала код непушача (30.9%) и оних који конзумирају кафу (51.9%). Учесталост главобоља је била виша код особа са нижим нивоом образовања.…”

“…Учесталост главобоља је била виша код особа са нижим нивоом образовања. Анализом резултата из других студија, није јасно потврђено да ли је ниво образовања повезан са настанком главобоља [5,[7][8][9][10][11].…”