Prevalence of cluster headache in the Republic of Georgia: results of a population-based study and methodological considerations

Cephalalgia. 2009 Sep;29(9):949-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01836.x. Epub 2009 Feb 25.

Abstract

We present a study of the general-population prevalence of cluster headache in the Republic of Georgia and discuss the advantages and challenges of different methodological approaches. In a community-based survey, specially trained medical residents visited 500 adjacent households in the capital city, Tbilisi, and 300 households in the eastern rural area of Kakheti. They interviewed all (n = 1145) biologically unrelated adult occupants using a previously validated questionnaire. The household responses rates were 92% in Tbilisi and 100% in Kakheti. The survey identified 32 persons with possible cluster headache, who were then personally interviewed by one of two headache-experienced neurologists. Cluster headache was confirmed in one subject. The prevalence of cluster headache was therefore estimated to be 87/100,000 (95% confidence interval < 258/100,000). We used a conservative approach, which has an obvious advantage of high-quality data collection, but is very demanding of manpower and time.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cluster Headache / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Georgia (Republic) / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires