Definitions of medication-overuse headache in population-based studies and their implications on prevalence estimates: A systematic review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Definitions of medication-overuse headache in population-based studies and their implications on prevalence estimates

T2 - A systematic review

AU - Westergaard, Maria L

AU - Hansen, Ebba Holme

AU - Glümer, Charlotte

AU - Olesen, Jes

AU - Jensen, Rigmor H

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - Background: Case definitions of medication-overuse headache (MOH) in population-based research have changed over time. This study aims to review MOH prevalence reports with respect to these changes, and to propose a practical case definition for future studies based on the ICHD-3 beta. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify MOH prevalence studies. Findings were summarized according to diagnostic criteria. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included. The commonly used case definition for MOH was headache ≥15 days/ month with concurrent medication overuse ≥3 months. There were varying definitions for what was considered as overuse. Studies that all used ICHD-2 criteria showed a wide range of prevalence among adults: 0.5%-7.2%. Conclusions: There are limits to comparing prevalence of MOH across studies and over time. The wide range of reported prevalence might not only be due to changing criteria, but also the diversity of countries now publishing data. The criterion "headache occurring on ≥15 days per month with concurrent medication overuse can be applied in population- based studies. However, the new requirement that a respondent must have "a preexisting headache disorder has not been previously validated. Exclusion of other headache diagnoses by expert evaluation and ancillary examinations is not feasible in large population-based studies.

AB - Background: Case definitions of medication-overuse headache (MOH) in population-based research have changed over time. This study aims to review MOH prevalence reports with respect to these changes, and to propose a practical case definition for future studies based on the ICHD-3 beta. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify MOH prevalence studies. Findings were summarized according to diagnostic criteria. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included. The commonly used case definition for MOH was headache ≥15 days/ month with concurrent medication overuse ≥3 months. There were varying definitions for what was considered as overuse. Studies that all used ICHD-2 criteria showed a wide range of prevalence among adults: 0.5%-7.2%. Conclusions: There are limits to comparing prevalence of MOH across studies and over time. The wide range of reported prevalence might not only be due to changing criteria, but also the diversity of countries now publishing data. The criterion "headache occurring on ≥15 days per month with concurrent medication overuse can be applied in population- based studies. However, the new requirement that a respondent must have "a preexisting headache disorder has not been previously validated. Exclusion of other headache diagnoses by expert evaluation and ancillary examinations is not feasible in large population-based studies.

U2 - 10.1177/0333102413512033

DO - 10.1177/0333102413512033

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24293089

SN - 0333-1024

VL - 34

SP - 409

EP - 425

JO - Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache

JF - Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache

IS - 6

ER -