Migraine and Tension-Type Headache Are Associated with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Growing scientific interest in headache disorders among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).
• Previous studies show inconsistent results due to methodological limitations.
• Need to clarify the association between MS and primary headache disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if pwMS have a higher prevalence of primary headache disorders than healthy controls (HCs).
• To investigate if MS is associated with an increased risk of headaches.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, case-control study design.
• Recruitment of pwMS and matched HCs from Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
• Assessment of headache disorders using semi-structured questionnaires and ICHD-3 criteria; multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Main Results:

• Higher prevalence of primary headache disorders in pwMS (71.9%) versus HCs (43.8%).
• Specific diagnoses: 28.1% migraine, 38.5% tension-type headache (TTH) in pwMS.
• PwMS showed significantly increased odds for any primary headache disorder (OR=4.54), migraine (OR=2.21), and TTH (OR=2.16) compared to HCs.

Conclusions:

• Primary headache disorders are more prevalent in pwMS in this Athens-based cohort.
• Highlights the necessity for targeted headache management strategies for pwMS.
• Recommends prospective longitudinal studies to confirm association and explore mechanisms.