Analysis on the risk factors of medication-overuse headache in Chinese patients

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors of medication-overuse headache in patients with chronic migraine in China. Materials and methods157 patients who were diagnosed as chronic migraine were chosen from headache outpatients of Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University. Based on a standardized questionnaire, a database was developed and analyzed with 45 indexes. ResultsThe independent risk factors of medication-overuse headache identified in this study included the frequency of medicine overuse (OR = 9.575, 95%CI, 3.573–35.659), Allodynia Symptom Checklist scores (OR = 5.846, 95%CI, 2.065–22.856), anxiety disorder (OR = 2.902, 95%CI, 1.601–7.476) and lack or non- standardized preventive treatment (OR = 1.173, 95%CI, 1.073–3.826). ConclusionsThe frequency of medicine overuse, Allodynia Symptom Checklist scores, anxiety disorder and lack or non-standardized preventive therapy were the independent risk factors for medication-overuse headache in patients with chronic migraine.