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Headache and analgesic use in Sweden
1Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Services Research, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
Headache
|April 8, 1998
Summary
This study analyzed analgesic use in Swedish adults with headache, finding gender-specific associations with factors like social networks, pain, and healthcare visits. Understanding these patterns is key for managing headache medication use.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Headache and analgesic use are prevalent health concerns.
- Understanding factors influencing medication choices is crucial for effective management.
- Gender-specific patterns in health behaviors are often observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of analgesic use among individuals experiencing headache in the general Swedish population.
- To analyze associations between analgesic use and various health, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors.
- To explore gender differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Swedish Survey of Living Conditions (1988-1989).
- Included a probability sample of 11,975 Swedish individuals aged 16 and older.
- Identified headache and analgesic use through specific survey questions.
Main Results:
- 16% of women and 8.2% of men reported headache.
- Analgesic use was higher among women (74%) than men (64%) with headache.
- Associations with analgesic use differed by gender: poor social network and musculoskeletal pain in men; age, underweight status, and physiotherapy visits in women.
Conclusions:
- Analgesic use in individuals with headache is influenced by a complex interplay of factors that vary significantly between genders.
- Factors such as social networks, pain characteristics, body weight, age, and healthcare utilization are associated with medication use.
- Future research should incorporate these identified factors to elucidate the mechanisms driving analgesic use decisions in headache patients.