We reported in the first issue of LTB News the need for additional studies to fill the knowledge gaps in the global estimate of headache burden. Eastern Europe has been identified as a key area where information is lacking and the Republic of Georgia selected as the first country to undertake a path-finding study in the former USSR.
The study, with support from the International Headache Society Russian Linguistic Subcommittee, chaired by Dr Zaza Katsarava, comprised a door-to-door survey in an urban (the capital Tbilisi) and rural population (eastern region of Kakheti) to estimate the one-year prevalence of migraine, tension-type headache and chronic daily headache.
From a total of 1,298 adults, it was found 48% of the population had experienced a headache within the past year with migraine affecting 13%, tension-type headache 33% and chronic daily headache 8%. These results are broadly in line with global prevalence estimates for migraine and tension-type headache; however, chronic daily headache was more prevalent than elsewhere.
Less than half of subjects used acute medication, primarily combination analgesics. Triptans were not used in any case. Around 3% of subjects overused acute headache medication.
No subject received preventative drugs and none had seen a neurologist for their headache disorder.
The authors note: "No headache service exists in the Republic of Georgia, which may explain the high prevalence of chronic daily headache, including probable medication-overuse headache."
Z Katsarava, M Kukava, E Mirvelashvili, A Tavadze, A Dzagnidze, M Djibuti and TJ Steiner. Prevalence of idiopathic headache in the Republic of Georgia. Presented at the International Headache Research Seminar, Chicago, US, March 2008.