Usage of devices with visual display terminals and the occurrence of various types of headaches: a cross-sectional study

<p>　Objective : The ownership rates of devices with visual display terminals, particularly those of smartphones, have increased prominently. To date, the aggravation of headaches due to these devices has been reported only in one study that analyzed the relationship between migraines and smartphones. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of various devices on the different types of headaches.<BR>　Methods and Patients : All patients with headaches who visited the Trinity Neurology Clinic between January 1 and February 28, 2019 were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. They were also asked with interview form about the frequency and duration of usage of those devices and other factors aggravating headaches.<BR>　Results : This study included 106 patients (19 men, 87 women; average age 48.2 years) who had 45 migraines (average 42.0 years) , 41 tension-type headaches (average 53.4 years) , 1 cluster headache (55 years) , 10 medication-overuse headaches (average 41.3 years) , 16 painful lesions of the cranial nerves and other facial pains (average 50.8 years) , and 10 other headaches (average 57.9 years) . Of all patients with headaches, 75% used smartphones, 45% used personal computers, 3% used tablets, and 45% had other factors aggravating headaches. Patients with migraines or medication-overuse headaches were younger than those with tension-type headaches (p＜0.005 and p＜0.05) and other headaches (p＜0.01 and p＜0.05) , respectively. Smartphone users complained more frequently of migraines and medication-overuse headaches than other types of headaches (p＜0.01) . Tension-type headaches were more common among smartphone users than among non-users (p＜0.05) .<BR>　Conclusions : Smartphone users have more headaches in patients with migraines and tension-type headaches. Smartphone users with migraines tend to aggravate their headaches and complicate medication-overuse headaches. This study is the first to analyze relations between several devices and various types of headaches.</p>