Prevalence of headache in Kashmir Valley, India

Background: Headache disorders represent a major public health problem globally. It is more so in developing countries with rising trend in young adults affecting negatively their quality of life. There has been very little information on the epidemiology of headache disorder in Kashmir India which has witnessed prolonged and large scale militancy related disturbance. A prospective population based study was undertaken in Srinagar district of Kashmir to determine the prevalence of headache disorder. Methods: The study was a cross sectional survey using cluster sampling with a culturally adapted version of pretested questionnaire translated into local language, in Hazratbal Community Block of Srinagar. In the first phase households were screened. Individuals with headache were then examined by a senior neurologist for migraine and non migraine disorder. Results: The overall prevalence of headache was 66.2 % with female preponderance. Occurrence of headache was as high as 79.90 % in adults of 19-45 years. The prevalence rate declined after the age of 45 years in both the genders. Women had higher prevalence rate than men in all age groups and for all headache categories. Age distribution showed prevalence rate of migraine of 45.69% in young adults of 19-45 years; females 55.44% and males 32.79 %. Non migraine headache was more common than migraine type, and was more prevalent in young age group in both the genders, highest in adolescents (74.20 %). Conclusion: The high prevalence rate of headache both migrainous and non migrainous in Kashmir may be related to the stress the community has been subjected to from militancy related conflict since 1990.