Quality of life in chronic daily headache
(2002)
Journal - Neurology
Abstract :
Objective: To analyze the quality of life (QoL) of subjectswith chronic daily headache (CDH) in the general population.Methods: QoL was studied, using the generic instrument ShortForm-36 (SF-36), in 89 unselected subjects from an epidemiologicstudy in the general population who fulfilled CDH criteria.SF-36 scores were adjusted for comorbid conditions. A totalof 89 healthy matched subjects were recruited as a control group.An additional matched group of 89 otherwise healthy subjectswith episodic migraine was recruited as controls only to thosewith transformed migraine (TM).Results: CDH subjects showed a significant decrease in eachhealth-related concept of the SF-36 as compared with healthysubjects. The highest decreases were seen for role physical,bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning. There was nosignificant difference in SF-36 scores in subjects with chronictension-type headache as compared with TM subjects. TM individualsshowed lower values in each health-related concept when comparedwith patients with episodic migraine, these decreases beingsignificant for general health, vitality, and mental health.Finally, CDH subjects without analgesic overuse showed highervalues in each concept of the SF-36 than those with analgesicoveruse. Despite the low proportion of abusers in this study,differences were significant for physical functioning and bodilypain.Conclusions: In the general population, CDH reduced all QoLaspects studied with the SF-36. This reduction in QoL was mostmarked in subjects with analgesic overuse. QoL was affectedmore by the chronicity than by the intensity of pain.