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Published on: June 2, 2014
Osmophobia in Patients With Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Erin E Briggs1,2, Anuja H Shah1,3, Shaun A Nguyen1
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA.
Summary
Nearly half of migraine patients experience osmophobia, an underrecognized condition. Odors like perfume often trigger attacks, and osmophobia is linked to other sensory disturbances, impacting migraine diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Otorhinolaryngology
Background:
- Osmophobia, or the fear of odors, is increasingly recognized as a significant symptom in migraine patients.
- Understanding its prevalence and characteristics is crucial for effective migraine management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of osmophobia in patients diagnosed with migraine.
- To characterize the experiences and triggers associated with osmophobia in this population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted using CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases.
- Studies reporting the prevalence of osmophobia in migraine patients were included.
- Primary outcomes included prevalence proportions and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main Results:
- The analysis included 58 studies with 22,299 patients, revealing an osmophobia prevalence of 47.8% among migraine sufferers.
- Odor triggers, particularly perfume, were reported by 40.1% of patients.
- Osmophobia was associated with increased odds of photophobia (OR=1.45), aura (OR=1.66), and nausea (OR=1.73).
Conclusions:
- Osmophobia is a prevalent and significant, yet often underrecognized, component of migraine.
- The findings suggest osmophobia can be a concomitant symptom, associated with other sensory disturbances, aiding in migraine diagnosis and management.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the true prevalence and underlying mechanisms.
