Researchers in an outpatient headache unit of the University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients. Demographic and clinical data from patients treated was collected over a five year period. Of a total of 1868 patients treated, 262 patients (14%, 189 women and 73 men) were older than 65 years. Ninety-nine (68 women, 31 men, 5.3% of the total) were over 75. Headaches began after the age of 65 in only 136 patients (51.9%). It is known that headaches decrease in patients over 65; however elderly patients were often treated at this outpatient headache unit. Tension-type headache was the most common diagnosis in this population. Dr. Stan Farrell focuses on the treatment of all types of headaches. Dr. Stan Farrell is a member of the American Headache Society and a Diplomate with the American Board of Orofacial Pain, making him one of the best choices for your migraine headache treatment. If you or someone you know suffers from migraines or headaches, schedule an appointment with Dr. Farrell at AZ TMJ today. www.headpaininstitute.com
Ruiz M, Pedraza MI, de La Cruz C, Barón J, Muñoz I, Rodríguez C, Celorrio M, Mulero P, Herrero S, Guerrero AL. Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION: Although headache prevalence decreases in patients older than 65, headaches are a common complaint and their different clinical and therapeutic features must be understood. This article analyses the clinical characteristics of elderly patients treated in an outpatient headache unit.
METHODS: We collected demographic and clinical data from patients treated in a tertiary hospital headache unit between January 2008 and May 2013. Headaches were codified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-2).
RESULTS: Of a total of 1868 patients treated, 262 patients (14%, 189 women and 73 men) were older than 65 years. Ninety-nine (68 women, 31 men, 5.3% of the total) were over 75. Headaches began after the age of 65 in only 136 patients (51.9%). The 362 headaches were codified as follows: 23.8% as Group 1 (Migraine) and 28.7% as Group 2 (Tension-type headache). We diagnosed 58 (16%) secondary headaches; 26 (7.2%) were classified as Group 13 (Cranial neuralgias) and 23 (6.4%) in Group 14 (Other headaches). Symptomatic medication overuse was detected in 38 patients (14.5%). We also identified headaches considered typical in the elderly, including chronic migraine (41 cases), hypnic headache (6), occipital neuralgia (4), SUNCT (2), cervicogenic headache (1), primary cough headache (1), and giant cell arteritis (2).
CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients were frequently treated in our outpatient headache unit. Tension-type headache was the most common diagnosis in this population. Geriatric headache syndromes such as hypnic headache or occipital neuralgia were also represented in our series.
Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.
