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Headache and immigration. A study in the outpatient department of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona

À. Vidal-Jordana, I. Barroeta-Espar, M.P. Sáinz-Pelayo, I. Sala, C. Roig [REV NEUROL 2011;53:275-280] PMID: 21796605 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.5305.2011230

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Volumen 53 | Number 05 | Nº of views of the article 5.396 | Nº of PDF downloads 316 | Article publication date 01/09/2011

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The immigrant population (IP) is visiting neurology departments on an increasingly more frequent basis. Research has still not made it clear whether there are geographical differences in the prevalence of primary headaches and the possible influence of emigration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective (12 months) and prospective study (18 months) of the first visits to the Headache Unit at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Data collected included the country of birth, time parameters of the headache and of the immigration, diagnoses according to the criteria of the IHS and treatments that had been used. Related headaches were considered to be those that began within one year of having immigrated.

RESULTS The IP represents 13.6% (n = 142) of the total number of first visits because of headaches (n = 1044). Immigrants came mostly from Latin America (83.9%). Headaches began after immigration in 40.1% of cases without the existence of any temporal relation with immigration. The distribution of the diagnoses of headache is similar to those of the local population, the most frequent being migraine (57.7%) and tension-type headache (15.5%). On comparing treatments prior to and following immigration, we find differences in the use of triptans (2.1% versus 46.2%), ergotamine (9.8% versus 2.1%) and in the use of preventive treatments (2% versus 45%).

CONCLUSIONS The IP accounts for 13% of all first visits due to headaches and their diagnoses are similar to those of the local population. Emigration is neither a precipitating nor an aggravating factor for headaches in our series. There is a significant difference in symptomatic and preventive treatment between the period prior to immigration and afterwards. KeywordsHeadache Immigration Migraine Neurology outpatient department Pharmacological treatment Primary care centre CategoriesCefalea y Migraña Dolor

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Headache and immigration. A study in the outpatient department of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona

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