Quality of life in adolescents with primary headaches
Abstract: Headaches are common
problems in adults, adolescents, and children. Headaches impact a child’s life,
their family life, and even society. An assessment of quality of life in
adolescents with primary headaches may help to determine actions necessary to
improve the quality of life of these patients.
Objective To assess the quality of life of adolescents with primary
headaches compared to healthy adolescents.
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in December 2009 on
adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. The headache group consisted of children with
primary headaches according to the International Classification of Headache
Disorders and the control group consisted of healthy adolescents. Subjects were
selected by consecutive sampling, with 75 subjects in each group. Subjects
filled the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0)
questionnaire.
Results The mean PedsQL total score was significantly lower in the
headache group than in the control group [175.7 vs. 392.2, respectively, (95%CI
of differences -28.1 to -219.3, P = 0.001)]. However, out of 23 items in the
questionnaire, 9 were not significantly different between the headache and
control groups.
Conclusions Primary headaches in adolescents is associated with lower
quality of life. Most quality of life domains scores are significantly lower in
adolescents with primary headaches compared to those without primary headaches.
Author: Naomi Riahta, Muhammad
Ali, Bistok Saing, Yazid Dimyati, Johannes Saing
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg120140
