Epidemiology

Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of primary headache in the general population and the most prevalent neurologic disorder worldwide.[2] Most patients with TTH have the infrequent episodic subtype, with headaches less than one day a month.[3] Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study estimate that there were 882.4 million new cases of TTH globally in 2017 and TTH was ranked as the second most common cause of chronic disease and injury worldwide.[3] In adults, the mean global prevalence of TTH has been reported as 42%.[4] Prevalence estimates vary between studies and regions, however. This is, in part, due to differences in case definitions and study methods, as well as differences in ethnicity and other demographic characteristics of populations. In a population-based Danish twin registry, the self-reported one-year prevalence of TTH among 12- to 41-year-old subjects was 86%.[5] The estimated one-year prevalence data from other populations vary widely: 10.8% in China; 36.1% in Jordan; 38.3% in the US; and 80% in Europe.[3] Data from the GBD study estimate that in 2017 there were 2.33 billion people with TTH worldwide, with 121.6 million in the US. Prevalence increased by 31.7% in the US from 1990 to 2017.[3]​ Chronic TTH has a prevalence of 2% to 3% in most studies.[3]

The onset of TTH is generally between 20 and 30 years of age, with prevalence peaking between the ages of 20 to 39 years and then declining.[3][6]​​ ​ 

TTH has a slight female preponderance, with a female to male ratio of 1.2:1, much lower than the 3:1 ratio for migraine.[3]

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer