Identifying associated comorbidities in the development of trigeminal neuralgia: A propensity-matched analysis of the...

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an uncommon disorder that leads to debilitating pain and interference with daily life. While often attributed to neurovascular compression, limited research has explored the underlying etiology and risk factors for TN. This study uses the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest publicly-available administrative inpatient database in the United States, to examine demographics and comorbidities associated with TN, aiming to identify potential risk factors and vulnerable inpatient populations.

NIS data from 2016 to 2019 was searched for patients with a primary diagnosis of TN (ICD-10 G50.0). Demographics and comorbidities were identified. A 1:1 propensity match was performed between TN and non-TN patients based on demographics, hospital characteristics, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. Multivariable regression was performed to identify factors associated with TN and calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR).

The final cohort included 38,300 patients, of whom 19,150 (50.0%) had TN. After matching, TN was significantly associated with multiple sclerosis (p < 0.001), other neurovascular compression disorders (NCD) including glossopharyngeal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm (p < 0.001), stroke (p < 0.001), systemic lupus erythematosus (p = 0.003), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.006), and complex diabetes (p < 0.001). Risk factors with the highest ORs included other NCDs (OR: 60.60, p < 0.001), multiple sclerosis (OR: 8.92, p < 0.001), and lupus (OR: 2.84, p = 0.003).

TN requiring hospitalization was independently associated with several comorbidities, including multiple sclerosis, lupus, stroke, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and other NCDs. Notably, this is the first population-level study to identify an association between lupus and TN, highlighting a potential inflammatory component in TN pathophysiology. Prospective studies are warranted to further elucidate these associations.