HEADACHES IN ADOLESCENTS – FREQUENCY, RISK FACTORS AND OTHER HEALTH COMPLAINTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN CROATIA

SUMMARY – Headaches are very common in school population. The aim of this study was to determine epidemiological data on headaches among Croatian schoolchildren and their connection to risk factors and other health complaints. In the study, we used the Croatian database of the international research entitled Health Behavior in School-aged Children for 2013/2014. It is a cross-sectional study conducted every four years in 44 countries among children aged 11-16. The students were interviewed using an anonymous standardized questionnaire. The Croatian sample consisted of 5741 students, of which 2857(49.8%) girls and 2884 (50.2%) boys. The response rate was 85.9%. Headaches were reported to be often (once a week to daily) by 23.5% of students and were more often in girls and in higher school grades. They were positively linked to cigarette smoking and health complaints such as back pain and stomachache, bad mood, nervousness, irritability, difficulties with sleeping and dizziness. Headaches are associated to many health problems and can cause difficulties in student functioning. This could be a serious problem. This study pointed to connection of headaches with cigarette smoking and importance to underpin the smoking prevention programs.