Bridging the gaps of headache care for underserved populations: A medication overuse headache survey among international headache society members from Latin America

Abstract

Introduction: Headache epidemiological studies in Latin America are scarce, and available data suggest that medication overuse headache is an existing health concern in the region. Materials and Methods: A survey empirically constructed to assess the management of medication overuse headache was sent to all the International Headache Society (IHS) members from Latin American countries. Results: We found no IHS members in 13 countries of Latin America. In countries with active members, the median number of IHS members per million inhabitants was significantly less when compared to Western Europe. Although the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3-beta (ICHD-3-beta) criterion was the most frequently used tool for medication overuse headache diagnosis, 41% of responders considered the diagnostic criterion ‘ambiguous’ and only 67% found them ‘very useful’. With respect to preferred treatment patterns, an important lack of uniformity, and a very limited usage of therapeutic approaches widely employed in other regions, characterized the responses. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to reach a consensus and establish region-specific strategies for the management of medication overuse headache as well as other headache disorders in this region. Development of headache specialized educational programmes, and participation of Latin American health providers in the IHS, should be incentivized.