OBJECTIVE: To verify if the age is a risk factor for secondary headaches, regardless the time interval since the onset of the headache complaint. METHOD: 1131 patients were selected, with the main complaint of headache. The ratio of secondary headaches was evaluated and compared between young and elderly patients in general; between individuals with headache starting before and after 60 years of age; and between young and elderly subjects with headache having started for less than one year. RESULTS: Elderly patients in general and individuals with headache having started after 60 years of age presented a higher ratio of secondary headaches than the young subjects and the ones whose pain started before 60 years of age. Elderly subjects with headache of recent start presented a higher ratio of secondary headaches than young individuals with the same time of pain evolution. CONCLUSION: Age is an independent risk factor for secondary headaches, regardless the time interval since the onset of the complaint.
headache; adult; aged
