Prevalence and Characteristics of Headaches in a Socially Active Population Working in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area -Surveillance by an Industrial Health Consortium

Norihiro Suzuki; Yoshiki Ishikawa; Shintaro Gomi; Nobuhiko Ito; Shigeru Watanabe; Masako Yokoyama; Kazuo Funatsu; Hitoshi Miyake; Hirokazu Yokoyama; Toshihiko Shimizu; Mamoru Shibata

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1700

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Prevalence and Characteristics of Headaches in a Socially Active Population Working in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area -Surveillance by an Industrial Health Consortium

Norihiro Suzuki, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Shintaro Gomi, Nobuhiko Ito, Shigeru Watanabe, Masako Yokoyama, Kazuo Funatsu, Hitoshi Miyake, Hirokazu Yokoyama, Toshihiko Shimizu, Mamoru Shibata

Author information

Norihiro Suzuki
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
Yoshiki Ishikawa
Otemachi Medical Center, Mizuho Health Insurance Society, Japan
Shintaro Gomi
Health Administration Center, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan
Nobuhiko Ito
Tokyo Health Administration Center, Nippon Life Insurance Company, Japan
Shigeru Watanabe
Tokyo Health Administration Center, Nippon Life Insurance Company, Japan
Masako Yokoyama
Mitsukoshi Health and Welfare Foundation Mitsukoshi Clinic, Japan
Kazuo Funatsu
Mitsukoshi Health and Welfare Foundation Mitsukoshi Clinic, Japan
Hitoshi Miyake
Fujitsu Limited, Health Promotion Unit, Japan
Hirokazu Yokoyama
Health Center, Keio University, Japan
Toshihiko Shimizu
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
Mamoru Shibata
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan

Keywords: migraine, tension-type headache, prevalence, overtime work, doctor attendance

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2014 Volume 53 Issue 7 Pages 683-689

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1700

Details

Abstract

Objective The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of headaches among socially active people working in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Methods We cross-sectionally surveyed 7,917 individuals. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, the prevalence and characteristics of headaches and physician attendance.
Results The lifetime prevalence of migraines was 8.9%, while that of tension-type headaches was 14.7%. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of migraines than men (15% vs. 3.7%; p<0.001). The prevalence of migraines and tension-type headaches differed among occupations. Susceptibility to migraines and tension-type headaches related to working overtime was observed. With respect to the influence of migraines on social activities, 22.4% of the migraineurs had been obliged to miss work due to headaches several times a year. As many as 59.4% of the sufferers had never consulted a physician about their headaches. Moreover, 24.6% of the migraineurs were not in touch with any physician at the time of the survey. The most common reason why they had stopped visiting their physician was that they had been told their headaches were not fatal.
Conclusion Migraines adversely affect social activities. These data provide important information for understanding the features of migraines and tension-type headaches in socially active people working in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

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