Primary headache and factors associated in university students: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Primary headaches, defined as disorders in themselves caused by independent pathomechanisms and not by other disorders, are prevalent in university students and considered one important health problems in the world. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of primary headaches and analyze associations with sociodemographic characteristics and the use of electronic devices by university students. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study analysis was carried out with a sample of 1,143 students of both genders who responded to the questionnaire on demographic, socioeconomic aspects, use of electronic devices, and on the primary headaches. Descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis, and Poisson regression were performed. Results: The overall prevalence of primary headache of 60.7%, being that, in relation to the type, 33.2% presented tension-type headache, 54.3% migraine, and 12.3% other types of headache. Regression analysis showed that female gender and income of up to two minimum wages were associated with primary headache and migraine type. The primary headache was associated with subjects of the white race; watching television and playing video games for more than 3 hours per day, for example. The sitting posture, semi-lying down, and distance from the eyes to the mobile phone and tablet longer than 20 cm were associated with primary headache and the three types of headaches. Conclusion: The results allow us to conclude that there is a high prevalence of primary headaches in college students and that socioeconomic factors related to the use of electronic devices are associated with the presence of primary headaches.