BACKGROUND: Previous studies during SARS and Ebola pandemics have shown that quarantine is associated with several negative psychological effects, such as post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion and anger. These conditions may affect the course of many diseases, including migraine. Although it is possible that the quarantine measures for the current COVID-19 pandemic affect migraine burden, no information is currently available on this issue. AIM: In this study, we aimed to: 1) explore the possible changes in migraine frequency, severity, and days with acute medication intake during quarantine period; 2) evaluate possible differences in migraine outcomes in consideration of lifestyle changes, emotions, pandemic diffusion, and COVID-19 infection. METHODS : We interviewed patients who were included in the observational Italian Headache Registry (Registro Italiano Cefalee, RICE), retrospectively collecting information on main headache features, lifestyles factors, emotions, individual infection status, and perception of COVID-19 for two months before (pre-quarantine) and after the beginning of the quarantine (quarantine). Inclusion criteria were: age > 18, diagnosis of migraine without aura, migraine with aura and chronic migraine, last in-person visit more than 3 months preceding the beginning of quarantine. RESULTS: A total of 433 migraine subjects agreed to be interviewed. We found an overall reduction in headache frequency and intensity during the quarantine, compared to pre-quarantine. There was a correlation between improvement and number of days of stay-at-home. When results were stratified for geographic area, we found a tendency towards worsening of headache frequency in northern Italy. Disgust regarding viral infection corresponded to a minor improvement in migraine.CONCLUSIONSMigraine patients showed resilient behavior toward pandemic distress. Disgust regarding the contagion whereas potentially favoring defensive behavior, could potentially worsen migraine.
AbstractBACKGROUND Previous studies during the SARS and Ebola pandemics have shown that quarantine is associated with several negative psychological effects. Although it is possible that quarantine for the current COVID-19 pandemic affects migraine burden, no information is currently available on this i
AIM: In this study, we aimed: a) to explore the effect of quarantine on migraine frequency, severity and days with acute medication intake, and b) to evaluate whether migraine, changes in lifestyle, and emotions. were affected in a different manner in three geographic Italian areas with diverse COVID-19 diffusion,
METHODS We interviewed patients included in the observational Italian registry of headache (Registro Italiano Cefalee, RICe), retrospectively collecting information on main headache features, lifestyles factors, emotions, individual infection status, and perception for COVID-19 for the two months before quarantine and during quarantine. Inclusion criteria were: age > 18; diagnosis of migraine without aura, migraine with aura, and chronic migraine; last in-person visit in the 3 months before the beginning of the quarantine.
RESULTS A total of 433 migraine subjects agreed to be interviewed. We found an overall reduction in headache frequency and days with acute medication intake during the quarantine as compared to pre-quarantine. Reduction in headache frequency prevailed in patients reported more days of effective staying at home. Improvement was not evident in northern Italy. Disgust against viral infection corresponded to a reduced improvement in migraine parameters.
CONCLUSIONS. Migraine patients showed a resilient behavior toward the pandemic distress. Disgust against the contagious disease, could increase migraine frequency.
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