Obesity, Migraine, and Overlapping Comorbidities in a Rural Pediatric Population

Abstract

Objective This study aims to report the prevalence of obesity and overlapping comorbidities in a rural population of children and adolescents with migraine. Design and Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive, secondary data analysis using a comprehensive patient database from the West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine Epic Clarity system will be reported. A review of electronic medical records of 990 children and adolescents, ages 7 to 17 years, evaluated for headache at a rural clinic from December 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017 was completed. The Chi-square test was used to identify any differences in demographic characteristics (age, gender, and race) and distribution of comorbidities (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS], depression, and anxiety) among obese versus nonobese adolescents with migraine. Student’s t-test was used to identify any differences in the number of comorbidities between the two groups. Results A total of 648 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of migraine were identified. Approximately 26.4% of the children and adolescents diagnosed with migraine (n = 648) met the criteria for being obese with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.6 kg/m2 (standard deviation [SD] = 6.5), ranging from 20.0 to 58.5 kg/m2. There were no significant differences between migraineurs who were categorized as obese versus nonobese in terms of gender (p = 0.8587), age (p = 0.1703), race (p = 0.7655), anxiety (p = 0.1841), or depression (p = 0.2793). Obese individuals have more comorbidities than nonobese individuals (p = 0.015). Additionally, the prevalence of OSAS was significantly higher among obese versus nonobese migraineurs (20 vs. 9.9%, p = 0.0007). Conclusion Given the prevalence of obesity in rural pediatric populations and the reported neurobiological links between migraine and obesity, BMI needs to be monitored and weight management interventions included in plans of care for rural children and adolescents with migraine.

Migraines in childhood as a cause of headache in adulthood – how to prevent it? A literature review

“…The chronotype affects the number and length of migraine episodes, but does not affect the intensity of experienced symptoms [3,76]. Sleep disorders such as nightmares, sleep talking, sleepwalking and bruxism, are included in the ICHD-3 [3] and are treated as an early manifestation of migraine disorders in childhood and a component of the 'childhood migraine syndrome'; therefore, the treatment of sleep disorders is a potential way to treat migraine disorders, but further research is needed [2,9,48,76].…”

“…These reports suggest that it is extremely important to monitor a child's current state of health. Any headache that lasts for a prolonged period of time or changes in nature should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, as a trivialised problem can lead to serious health consequences later in life [48].…”

Developing Sentinel Surveillance for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Using Test Results From Routine Screening During Pregnancy

“…Using Structured Query Language (SQL) script, we collected data from the EPIC Clarity, a relational database within the EHR that can be used for quality improvement and research purposes. [17][18][19][20] We identified persons in the MUSC health care system's EHR with a pregnancy episode initiated during our study period of January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, regardless of pregnancy outcome (ie, fetal loss or delivery). We analyzed visit and test result data in EPIC as of Dec 31, 2021.…”

Not Only Metabolic Complications of Childhood Obesity

“…An Italian study by Tarantino et al conducted on children and adolescents suffering from migraine found that children who are overweight experienced more frequent migraine attacks than those of normal weight [ 155 ]. Thus, the treatment of children affected by obesity and migraine should be focused on weight loss therapies that include exercise, diet, and behavioral interventions [ 156 ].…”