Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferers

Abstract

Objective To characterise and compare the sociodemographic profiles and the frequency of common comorbidities for adults with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) in a large population-based sample. Methods The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) study is a longitudinal, population-based, survey. Data from the 2005 survey were analysed to assess differences in sociodemographic profiles and rates of common comorbidities between two groups of respondents: CM (ICHD-2 defined migraine; $15 days of headache per month) and EM (ICHD-2 defined migraine; 0e14 days of headache per month). Categories of comorbid conditions included psychiatric, respiratory, cardiovascular, pain and 'other' such as obesity and diabetes. Results Of 24 000 headache sufferers surveyed in 2005, 655 respondents had CM, and 11 249 respondents had EM. Compared with EM, respondents with CM had stastically significant lower levels of household income, were less likely to be employed full time and were more likely to be occupationally disabled. Those with CM were approximately twice as likely to have depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Respiratory disorders including asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiac risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity, were also significantly more likely to be reported by those with CM. Discussion Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of the CM population differ from the EM population on multiple dimensions, suggesting that CM and EM differ in important ways other than headache frequency.

Diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of chronic migraine: a proposal of the Belgian Headache Society

“…The mean age of CM patients in the AMPP study and IBMS was similar to that of EM patients, both most common in females in their fourth decade of life [4,10]. However, CM patients had longer attacks (both treated and untreated) than EM patients [4,10], and CM patients are more likely to experience severe pain intensity [4].…”

“…However, CM patients had longer attacks (both treated and untreated) than EM patients [4,10], and CM patients are more likely to experience severe pain intensity [4]. CM patients are more disabled and have a lower quality of life than EM patients, as illustrated by a lower score on the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life (MSQ) questionnaire [4], and higher scores on the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) [5] or Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire [11].…”

“…CM patients tend to have a higher Body Mass Index than EM patients, and around 25 % of CM patients are obese [6]. CM patients suffer more than twice as frequent (around 30 % of patients) from chronic non-headache pain disorders as compared to EM patients [10]. Respiratory disorders and cardiac risk factors-including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol-were also significantly more reported by CM patients in the AMPP [10].…”

“…Respiratory disorders and cardiac risk factors-including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol-were also significantly more reported by CM patients in the AMPP [10]. CM patients are less likely to be full-time employed and are more likely to be occupationally disabled [10].…”

“…CM patients suffer more than twice as frequent (around 30 % of patients) from chronic non-headache pain disorders as compared to EM patients [10]. Respiratory disorders and cardiac risk factors-including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol-were also significantly more reported by CM patients in the AMPP [10]. CM patients are less likely to be full-time employed and are more likely to be occupationally disabled [10].…”