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Published on: June 2, 2014
Presence of Headache and Migraine in Asthma Patients
Muzaffer Onur Turan1, Çiğdem Çelik Susuz2, Pakize Ayşe Turan3
1Department of Chest Diseases, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
Objectives:
Migraine is a diseases characterized with severe headaches, with neurological and systemic findings. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of migraine and to examine whether there is a relationship between atopic disorders, parental history and migraine in asthma patients.
Material And Methods:
A total of 288 asthma outpatients, who had the diagnosis by an early or late test of reversibility showing a reversible airway obstruction according to hospital database were included. The presence of headache, atopic symptoms and parental history about asthma, atopic disorders and migraine were asked. The patients with headache were consultated by neurology department and investigated about the presence of migraine. The diagnosis of migraine headache was made if patients fulfilled the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria.
Results:
60.4% of patients described a headache. There were 94 patients (32.6%) with headaches meeting the IHS criteria for migraine. Only 12 patients had migraine with aura. There were atopic symptoms in 86.8% of patients. According to parental history, there were asthma in 47.9%, atopic symptoms in 39.6% and migraine in 22.2% of parents. Patients with atopic symptoms were found to have significantly high rate of headaches (65.3%) "p=0.007". The prevalence of migraine was significantly high in patients with parental atopic symptoms (54%) "p=0.002". Multiple logistic regression analysis identified that gender, parental history of asthma, allergia and migraine, and smoking were independent risk factors for presence of migraine in asthmatics.
Conclusion:
There is a high prevalence of migraine headaches in patients with asthma. The coexistence of asthma and headaches may be related with a similar pathophysiological mechanism; parental history, common genetic compounds and smoking may play role in this mechanism. The headaches in asthma patients, atopic symptoms and family history should be questioned, and clinicians should be careful about the presence of migraine.
Insights
Migraine headaches are common in asthma patients. Factors like atopic symptoms, parental history, and smoking are linked to migraine in those with asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Neurology
- Genetics
Background:
- Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by severe headaches.
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition often associated with systemic and neurological findings.
- The potential link between asthma, atopic disorders, and migraine requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of migraine in asthma patients.
- To explore the association between atopic disorders, parental history, and migraine in individuals with asthma.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 288 asthma outpatients with diagnosed reversible airway obstruction were assessed.
- Data collected included headache presence, atopic symptoms, and parental history of asthma, atopic disorders, and migraine.
- Migraine diagnosis was confirmed using International Headache Society (IHS) criteria following neurological consultation.
Main Results:
- Headaches were reported by 60.4% of asthma patients, with 32.6% meeting IHS criteria for migraine.
- A significant association was found between headaches and atopic symptoms (65.3%) and between migraine and parental atopic symptoms (54%).
- Independent risk factors for migraine in asthmatics included gender, parental history (asthma, atopy, migraine), and smoking.
Conclusions:
- Migraine headaches exhibit a high prevalence among patients diagnosed with asthma.
- The co-occurrence of asthma and migraine may involve shared pathophysiological mechanisms, including genetic factors, parental history, and smoking.
- Clinicians should actively screen asthma patients for headaches, atopic symptoms, and family history to identify potential migraine cases.
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