Thomson A N, White G E, West R
Department of General Practice, University of Auckland School of Medicine.
N Z Med J. 1993 Nov 10;106(967):477-80.
Overall and ethnic specific prevalences of bad headache including migraine, for the New Zealand population, are unknown. A study was carried out in South Auckland to estimate prevalence and to explore ethnic differences in doctor attendance for the diagnosis and management of bad headaches.
Telephone interviews were administered to respondents selected by random digit dialing of households.
40.6% of the respondents suffered from bad headaches. 54.5% of these had the characteristics of bad headache with features symptomatic of migraine. Trends in the prevalence of bad headache with features symptomatic of common migraine, peaked between the ages of 30-49 years in both men and women. A difference was seen in the prevalence of bad headache with aura, with or without common migraine features, when ethnic groups and gender were examined. The difference in prevalence of aura was particularly noticeable between Pacific Island men and women. Although there was no difference between ethnic groups in doctor attendance, headaches were more likely to be labelled as migraine in Europeans than in the Polynesian groups.
Ways in which people perceive and report their bad headaches have a bearing on management by general practitioners. Although no overall ethnic predominance was seen, there was a gender difference amongst Pacific Island people in reporting bad headaches with aura. The labelling process, and thus the management by general practitioners does demonstrate likely ethnic differences.
新西兰人群中包括偏头痛在内的严重头痛的总体患病率及特定种族患病率尚不清楚。在奥克兰南部开展了一项研究，以估计患病率，并探讨在因严重头痛的诊断和治疗而就医方面的种族差异。
通过对家庭进行随机数字拨号来选择受访者进行电话访谈。
40.6%的受访者患有严重头痛。其中54.5%具有严重头痛的特征且伴有偏头痛的症状。具有普通偏头痛症状的严重头痛患病率趋势在男性和女性中均在30至49岁之间达到峰值。在检查种族和性别时，伴有或不伴有普通偏头痛特征的有先兆严重头痛的患病率存在差异。太平洋岛民男性和女性之间先兆患病率的差异尤为明显。尽管不同种族在就医方面没有差异，但与波利尼西亚人群相比，欧洲人中的头痛更有可能被诊断为偏头痛。
人们感知和报告严重头痛的方式会影响全科医生的治疗。尽管未观察到总体种族优势，但太平洋岛民在报告伴有先兆的严重头痛方面存在性别差异。诊断过程以及因此全科医生的治疗确实显示出可能存在种族差异。
