Excessive daytime sleepiness in chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache from the general population

Introduction A relationship between headache and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) has been suggested. This study investigated this association in relation to people with chronic migraine or chronic tension-type headaches. Methods A total of 30,000 persons aged 30-44 from the general population were screened for chronic headache. Those eligible were interviewed by a headache specialist. EDS was defined as Epworth sleepiness scale score >10. Logistic regression models were used. Results Among the 323 eligible participants, 21.1% had EDS. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the odds ratios (OR) of EDS were not significantly different in people with CM and CTTH. However, high headache frequency was associated with EDS (OR 2.03 (95% CI 1.11-3.73, p = 0.022)) for those with ≥ 80 compared to < 80 headache days/3 months, after adjustment for type of headache, age, and gender. Conclusions Increased EDS was associated with higher headache frequency, but not with specific headache diagnoses.