Abstract

Background
There have been only a few epidemiologic studies on migraine in Korea. In Asian count- ries Korea is one of the blank spots on the migraine map. No official data have been reported in Korea. This study is the first Korean government-supported project that surveyed the headache disorders in Korea. Objectives: To investigate the 1-year prevalence of migraine in Korea using the new operational diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorder 2004(ICHD-II) proposed by the International Headache Society(IHS). Methods: A door-to-door survey of headache was conducted by personal face-to-face interviews among the people aged between 15 and 65 years in the Korea except the Cheju island during October 2004. Stra- tified systematic household sampling was performed and the subjects were recruited from 2,038 house- holds. In this study a standardized questionnaire and a diagnostic algorithm applied by lay interviewers were used as the method of data collection. The algorithm was based on the diagnostic criteria of the ICHD-II. This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea(A020163). Results: The life-time prevalence of headache in Koreans was 31.4%(640/2038, M 27.6%, F 35.3%). The sex- and age-specific 1-year prevalence rate of headache was 21.5%(M 17.1%, F 26.1%). The point prevalence of headache suffering at the time of interview was 12.0%(245/2,038). The 1-year prevalence of migraine was 12.0%(M 9.3%, F 14.7%). The peak prevalence rate was observed in the 30s of age in both genders(M 11.3%, F 16.0%). Another minor peak prevalence was observed in the 50s of age in women but not in men. Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence rate of migraine in Korea is quite comparable to that observed in other countries except the presence of second minor peak in the 50s in women. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the satisfaction with treatment and overall effectiveness of the medical care system in Korea.