MONDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- There are significant differences between chronic and episodic migraine sufferers in terms of sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, according to research published online Feb. 17 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Dawn C. Buse, Ph.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y., and colleagues analyzed 2005 survey data from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study of 24,000 headache sufferers, of whom 655 had chronic migraines and 11,249 had episodic migraines.
Chronic migraine sufferers had lower household income levels than their episodic migraine counterparts, were less likely to be in full-time work, and were more likely to be unable to work due to disability, the researchers found. Chronic migraine sufferers were also more likely than those with episodic migraine to have depression, anxiety and chronic pain; respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and cardiac risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.
"Differences in the profiles between the two groups suggest that chronic and episodic migraine diverge not just in the degree of headache frequency but in these other important areas," the authors write. "These differences might reflect differences in biological risk factors and provide valuable clues to further explore the differences between chronic and episodic migraine. These findings highlight the importance for clinicians to maintain diagnostic vigilance and provide appropriate treatment or referrals when necessary."
The survey was funded through a grant provided by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals. Additional funding for this study was provided by Allergen Pharmaceuticals, of which two co-authors are employees.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
