Table 2 Comparison of headache characteristics among young and elderly
Variable | Young (n = 95) | Elderly (n = 70) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
Time of onset (n, %) | |||
On waking up | 14 (14.7) | 25 (35.7) | 0.003 |
Afternoon/evening | 21 (22.1) | 15 ((21.4) | 1.0 |
Night | 7 (7.4) | 2 (2.9) | 0.3 |
Anytime | 53 (55.8) | 28 (40) | 0.06 |
Frequency (n, %) | |||
Everyday | 14 (14.7) | 29 (41.4) | <0.0001 |
Every other day | 10 (10.5) | 7 (10) | 1.0 |
>1–3×/week | 40 (42.1) | 22 (31.4) | 0.19 |
1×/week–1×/2 week | 15 (15.8) | 3 (4.3) | 0.02 |
<1×/2 week–1×/month | 7 (7.4) | 5 (7.1) | 1.0 |
<1×/month–1×/6 months | 7 (7.4) | 1 (1.4) | 0.14 |
<1×/6 months–1×/year | 2 (2.1) | 3 (4.3) | 0.65 |
Number of headache in a month (n, %) | |||
Headache ≤15 days/month | 68 (71.6) | 37 (52.9) | 0.015 |
Headache >15 days/month | 27 (28.4) | 33 (47.1) | 0.015 |
Site of pain (n, %) | |||
Frontal | 12 (12.6) | 9 (12.9) | 1.0 |
Temporal | 47 (49.5) | 18 (25.7) | 0.002 |
Occipital | 16 (16.8) | 20 (28.6) | 0.09 |
Vertex | 11 (11.6) | 7 (10) | 0.81 |
Whole head | 6 (6.3) | 5 (7.1) | 1.0 |
Migrating | 1 (1.1) | 1 (1.4) | 1.0 |
Face | 1 (1.1) | 7 (10) | 0.01 |
Back of neck | 1 (1.1) | 3 (4.3) | 0.31 |
Character of headache (n, %) | |||
Throbbing/pulsating | 61 (64.2) | 32 (45.7) | 0.02 |
Sharp/stabbing | 19 (20.0) | 12 (17.1) | 0.69 |
Tightness/pressing | 14 (14.7) | 18 (25.7) | 0.11 |
Not specific | 1 (1.1) | 8 (11.4) | 0.005 |
Intensity of headache (n, %) | |||
Mild | 9 (9.5) | 28 (40) | <0.0001 |
Moderate | 45 (47.4) | 19 (27.1) | 0.01 |
Severe | 41 (43.2) | 23 (32.9) | 0.19 |