Course of frequent/daily headache in the general population and in medical practice.

Abstract

Frequent headache is defined as headaches ≥ 15 days/month and daily headache operationally as headaches ≥ 5 days/week. In this article, we review the outcome of frequent/ daily headache in the general population and in medical practice. In the general population, within 1 year fewer than half of those with frequent/daily headache will still have frequent/daily headache, with a gradual further decrease over subsequent years. In medical practice, the results of studies suggest a one-third reduction in headache days/month over 6 to 12 months, with nearly 40% of patients with frequent/daily improving ≥ 50% in headache days/month over the same time period (50% responder rate). In terms of predictors of poor outcome, no clear picture emerges.