A study of cardiac autonomic functions in patients with chronic migraine versus chronic Tension-type Headache (TTH) in adults cardiac autonomic functions in headache

Abstract

Objective: To assess cardiac autonomic functions in patients with chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache (TTH) in adults using heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: Two groups of patients having chronic migraine (n = 25) and chronic TTH (n = 25) were enrolled for this study. HRV was analyzed with the help of BIOPAC MP150. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21. Unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used for parameters with normal and nonnormal distribution, respectively. Results: In chronic migraine group, SDNN (38.90 ± 22.14 vs 41.71 ± 20.81 ms, p=1.000), RMSSD (39.20 ± 25.14 vs 64.11 ± 156.74 ms, p=0.437) and pNN50 (13.37 ± 17.94 vs 18.56 ± 20.42, p=0.496) were lower than in chronic THH group. Frequency domain parameters like LF (614.20 ± 604.89 ms2 vs 595.81 ± 597.08 ms2, p=0.823) and HF (1190.68 ± 1330.87 ms vs 832.52 ± 1356.70 ms2, p=0.148 were higher for chronic THH group compared to chronic migraine group. The total power for chronic THH group was higher compared to chronic migraine group (2447.93 ± 2215.03 ms2 vs 1845.27 ± 1550.38 ms2, p=0.308).