A POPULATION BASED SURVEY FOR HEADACHES IN GREECE TO ESTIMATE PREVALENCE AND TREATMENT PREFERENCES

Objective: To estimate headache prevalence and patient preferences for treatment in Greek general population. Background: No data exists so far. Design/Methods: In a representative sample of adult Greek general population consisted of 10,008 inhabitants a computer-assisted telephone interview was performed, by using an evaluated 37-item questionnaire for headaches. Results: N=1,197 respondents (12%) were found to suffer from headaches that reduce their performance. The one-year prevalence of migraine that reduces activity was 8.2% (n=0.6m population), of tension-type headache (TTH) 3.8% (n=0.28m of population) and of cluster headache 0.01% (n=0.74K of population). The one-year prevalence of chronic migraine was 1% (n=0.7K of population). Females tend to suffer more from migraines and TTH as well as ages 35–54-year-old. Headache sufferers report headache-induced reductions in performance around 3 days/month. Less than half of them have felt bad/shamed because of headaches. About one-fifth of headache sufferers seek professional treatment for headaches, a private neurologist most often. Painkillers are the most common acute treatment for headaches. The vast majority of headache sufferers have never taken prophylaxis for headaches. Only a small fraction have stopped taking a prophylactic treatment due to adverse effects. Regarding both prophylactic and acute treatment, they prefer oral medication to injection, even if the former is administered more frequently. They also prefer oral medication or injection to a stimulation device. Conclusions: A large part of headache sufferers do not have medical consultation for headache. Study Supported by: HELLENIC HEADACHE SOCIETY, ALLERGAN, NOVARTIS Disclosure: Dr. Mitsikostas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arvaniti has nothing to disclose. Dr. Constantinidis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fakas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dermitzakis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rudolf has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vikelis has nothing to disclose.