Comorbidity in Finnish migraine families

J Headache Pain. 2006 Oct;7(5):324-30. doi: 10.1007/s10194-006-0319-x. Epub 2006 Oct 25.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate comorbidity of migraine in Finnish migraine families. One thousand consecutive participants in the Finnish Migraine Gene Project reported their medical illnesses in addition to migraine and headache. Migraine patients (n=678) reported significantly more hypotension (OR 1.43, CI 95% 1.02-2.01), allergy (OR 1.83, CI 95% 1.34-2.51) and psychiatric disorders (OR 4.09, CI 95% 2.11-7.92) compared to their family members without migraine (n=322). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that especially women and the group fulfilling the criteria for both migraine with and without aura were likely to have additional disorders besides their migraine. Interestingly, male migraineurs with aura reported a significant association with stroke and epilepsy. Familial migraine is comorbid with hypotension, allergy and psychiatric disorders. The association between migraine with aura and stroke and epilepsy among men of the studied families warrants further study. Clinical, pathophysiological and genetic implications of these results are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / physiopathology
  • Hypotension / epidemiology
  • Hypotension / physiopathology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine with Aura / diagnosis
  • Migraine with Aura / epidemiology*
  • Migraine with Aura / physiopathology*
  • Migraine without Aura / diagnosis
  • Migraine without Aura / epidemiology*
  • Migraine without Aura / physiopathology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Young Adult