Evaluation of the Frequency and Intensity of Osmophobia Between Headache Attacks in Migraine Patients Through an Osmophobia Diary

Abstract

Background: Our objective was to determine the frequency and intensity of osmophobia between headache attacks in migraine patients through an osmophobia diary. Methods: Patients with migraine without aura or with episodic tension-type headache (ETTH), diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (beta version) (ICHD-3β), were interviewed about osmophobia between headache attacks. Results: We studied 200 patients with migraine without aura and 200 with ETTH. Osmophobia between headache attacks was restricted to migraine patients (48/200, 24.0%). The osmophobia diary showed a frequency of osmophobia between attacks of 15.6 ± 6.8 days (95% CI: 13.7 - 17.7) in the 30-day evaluation period and in 62.5% (30/48) of migraine patients who presented this symptom, the frequency was greater than 15 days. The intensity ranged from severe to very severe in 61.5% (460/748) of all episodes of osmophobia. Osmophobia index was equal to 42.3 ± 17.93 (95% CI: 37.2 - 47.4). Conclusion: An osmophobia diary could be considered as a potentially valuable tool to be applied and tested in later studies to evaluate the frequency and intensity of osmophobia between headache attacks in migraine patients.