Following-on from the study in Georgia, using similar methods, the prevalence and burden of headache have been studied in Moldova. This marks another first, as it is the only headache epidemiology study ever performed in Moldova.

Again, the primary aim was to determine the one-year prevalences of migraine, tension-type headache (TTH) and chronic daily headache (CDH) in the general population. A total of eight neurology residents, trained by the principal investigator, contacted adjacent households in the Moldovan capital and a rural area and collected data from 2,511 respondents using a structured questionnaire.

Of these, 54% reported a headache of some sort within the past year. Migraine was diagnosed in 17.5% of subjects: 15.8% without aura and 2.3% with aura. TTH was identified in 17.9% of subjects: infrequent episodic TTH in 1%, frequent episodic TTH in 13.8% and chronic TTH in 3.1%. A total of 4.7% of respondents reported CDH - that is, headache on more days than not.

Of these, 54% reported a headache of some sort within the past year. Migraine was diagnosed in 17.5% of subjects: 15.8% without aura and 2.3% with aura. TTH was identified in 17.9% of subjects: infrequent episodic TTH in 1%, frequent episodic TTH in 13.8% and chronic TTH in 3.1%. A total of 4.7% of respondents reported CDH - that is, headache on more days than not.

Moldovanu I, Ciobanu L, Corcea G, et al. The prevalence of headache disorders in the Republic of Moldova: a population-based study. Presented at the 13th Congress of the International Headache Society, Stockholm, Sweden, June 2007. Abstract D101.