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Lifetime Prevalence and Correlates of Migraine Among Women in a Pacific Northwest Pregnancy Cohort Study
Author(s) -
Frederick Ihunnaya O.,
Qiu Chunfang,
Enquobahrie Daniel A.,
Aurora Sheena K.,
Peterlin B. Lee,
Gelaye Bizu,
Williams Michelle A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.12206
Subject(s) - migraine , odds ratio , medicine , confidence interval , headaches , pregnancy , cohort , cohort study , obstetrics , pediatrics , surgery , genetics , biology
Background Migraine is a common neurological disorder, ranked among the world's leading causes of years lived with disability by the W orld H ealth O rganization. The burden of migraine is highest in women of reproductive age. Methods We characterized the prevalence, symptoms, and correlates of migraine and other headaches among 500 women enrolled in a pregnancy cohort study. Migraine diagnoses (eg, definitive migraine and probable migraine) were based on the I nternational C lassification of H eadache D isorders‐ II criteria. Headache‐related disability, before and during early pregnancy, was determined using the M igraine D isability A ssessment questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results The lifetime prevalence of definitive migraine was 20.0% (95% confidence interval 16.6‐23.8%). When probable migraine was included, the lifetime prevalence of any migraine (definitive migraine plus probable migraine) increased to 29.8% (95% confidence interval 25.9‐34.0%). An additional 16.6% (95% confidence interval 13.5‐20.2%) of women in the cohort were classified as having non‐migraine headaches. Over 26% of migraineurs experienced moderate or severe headache‐related disability during early pregnancy. Migraine headaches were associated with a family history of headache or migraine (odds ratio = 3.47; 95% confidence interval 2.14‐5.63), childhood car sickness (odds ratio = 8.02; 95% confidence interval 4.49‐14.35), pre‐pregnancy obesity status (odds ratio = 3.83; 95% confidence interval 1.77‐8.26), and a high frequency of fatigue (odds ratio = 2.01; 95% confidence interval 1.09‐3.70). Conclusion Migraine‐ and headache‐related disability are prevalent conditions among pregnant women. Diagnosing and treating migraine and headaches during pregnancy are essential.