Gender Differences in the Association of Life Style Factors to the Prevalence and Symptoms of Migraines and Other Headaches Among Navy Personnel

摘要

Migraine is a serious and painful disorder characterized by severe headaches. A questionnaire-based survey was performed of 2,914 women crew members and a comparison group of 2,841 men assigned aboard 36 Navy ships during 1994-1996. The men were matched to the women on ship, division, department, race, paygrade, rating, and date of birth (+2 years). The overall median ship response rate for the 36 ships was 63.1% and the overall mean response rate was 52.2%. The overall median response rate for women was 66.2%. Age of respondents was 18-51 years (mean, 26 years). Approximately 60% of women and half the men reported a headache during the past 30 days (prevalence rate ratio for women compared to men = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-1.4). A total of 36% of women and 19% of men reported headaches with possible migraine symptoms (rate ratio = 1.9, 95% CI 2.1-2.7), and a history of diagnosed migraines was reported by 13% of women and 6% of men (rate ratio = 2.1, 95% CI 1.8-2.5). Cigarette smoking was positively associated with migraines in both genders. There was no consistent association of usual alcohol intake, exercise, or obesity with migraines. Sleeping seven or more hours per night was associated with a lower rate of migraine symptoms in both genders. Prevalence rates of migraine are high and possibly could be reduced by reduction in cigarette smoking rates.