BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to estimate the one-year prevalence of primary headache disorders in three different social groups using the third edition beta of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 beta).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population included a total of 3124 participants: 1042 students (719 females, 323 males, mean age 20.6, age range 17-40), 1075 workers (146 females, 929 males, mean age 40.4, age range 21-67) and 1007 blood donors (484 females, 523 males, mean age 34.1, age range 18-64). We used a semi-structured, validated face-to-face interview.

RESULTS: The age-adjusted one-year prevalence of migraine in females was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in students (41.9%) than in workers (19.2%) and blood donors (18.7%). Age-adjusted prevalence of migraine among males did not differ among the three groups: 4.5% in students, 4.9% in workers and 4.5% in blood donors. Age-adjusted prevalence of tension-type headache (TTH) among females was almost the same in students and blood donors (68.8% and 66.7%) but female workers had a lower prevalence of TTH (57%). Age-adjusted prevalence of TTH among males did not differ significantly between students and blood donors (55.8% and 58.1%) but male workers had a significantly lower (p < 0.001) prevalence of TTH (30.7%). The prevalence of chronic headache in students (TTH and/or migraine) was 3% and of probable medication-overuse headache 3%, significantly more than in workers and blood donors.

CONCLUSION: Headache prevalence was high and differed markedly among the three social groups. It is important that headache epidemiology also focus on socially defined groups in order to target future preventive efforts.