Migraine prevalence by age and sex in the United States: A life-span study

Abstract

The present study assessed age- and sex-specific patterns of migraine prevalence in a US population of 40,892 men, women, and children who participated in the 2003 National Health Interview Survey. Gaussian mixture models characterised the relationship between migraine, age, and sex. Migraine prevalence was 8.6% (males), 17.5% (females), and 13.2% (overall) and showed a bimodal distribution in both sexes (peaking in the late teens and 20s and around 50 years of age). Rate of change in migraine prevalence for both sexes increased the fastest from age 3 years to the mid-20s. Beyond the age of 10 years, females had a higher prevalence of migraine than males. The prevalence ratio for females versus males was highest during the female reproductive/child-bearing years, consistent with a relationship between menstruation and migraine. After age 42 years, the prevalence ratio was approximately 2-fold higher in women.

Prevalence of Migraine Among Female Students at Taibah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“…In addition, if the study were to be conducted during a stressful timeasmid-term or finalexaminations, it would probably reveal a more of a widespread to migraine headaches since the screening test analyses the presence of headache in the previous three months as in this study. Moreover, environmental, racial, climate, different socioeconomic status or nutritional habits could also play a role in the differentiation whereasbe contributing factors for migraine in these different countries (31) .…”

The Prevalence of Migraine in Different Parts of Iran: Review of the Current Evidence

“…The precise prevalence of migraine is unknown and based on previous reports, the prevalence of this disorder is different around the world. One large epidemiological study in the United States reported the prevalence of this disorder as 13.2%, 8.6% and 17.5% for the total population, males and females, respectively (12). In addition, evidences have shown a prevalence of 14.7% in European adults and 3% and 10% in Asian males and females, respectively (13,14).…”

Gender-Based Issues in Headache

“…If we apply data on female migraineurs, then 18% of those women will have experienced a migraine within the prior year, with the highest prevalence in women in their twenties and thirties. 62 An increase in headaches or initial onset of headache, including migraine, has long been associated with the use of oral contraceptives, which are a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The placebo interval, in which the estrogen-containing agent is withheld, is known to cause an "estrogen-withdrawal" headache.…”