Abstract

Abstract Background Data on a possible comorbidity between migraine and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are controversial. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of migraine in a cohort of IBD patients. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in a cohort of IBD patients at our IBD Unit. After informed consent, consecutive IBD patients aged 18-64 years were interviewed. Those who admitted a history of headache in the last year were asked to answer the three questions of the id-Migraine validated questionnaire. Those who answered "yes" to the three of them were classified as "definite" migraine and those who answered "yes" to two were classified as "probable" migraine. For all patients we collected demographic data, IBD subtype, disease duration, hospitalizations or surgeries and medical treatments. Migraine prevalence data of IBD patients were compared with reported local migraine prevalence data at 18-65 years of age (Cephalalgia 2011; 31: 463-70). Statistical analysis was done with SPSS®. Results We interviewed 283 consecutive IBD patients aged 20-65 years. Main characteristics of this population are described in table 1. Headache was present in 176 (62.2%) patients. Of those, 59 (20.8%; 95% CI 16.1-25.5%) met migraine criteria either definite (n= 33; 11.7%; 95% CI 8-15.4%) or probable (n=26; 9.2%; 95% CI 5.8-12.5). When divided by gender, 12 men (9.6%; 95% CI 4.4-14.) and 47 women (29.8%; 95% CI 22.7-36.9%) met migraine criteria. The prevalence of migraine was significantly increased in IBD patients (20.8%) versus that reported for our general population (12.6%; p= 0.0001). By sex, these differences remained significant in women (29.8% in IBD versus 17.2% in our general population; p=0.0001), but not in men (9.6% in IBD vs 8.0%; p=0.45) (Figure 1). By IBD subtypes, there were no significant differences between CD and UC in migraine prevalence (20.7% vs 19.6% respectively; p=0.58). Regarding IBD characteristics, men with total migraine had higher biologic treatment (66.7% vs 44% p=0.032), and immune mediated inflammatory diseases or extraintestinal manifestations of IBD (33.3% vs 9.6% p=0.0016), but the number of men with migraine was low (12). These associations were not significant for women, nor overall population (p>0.05). Additionally, we did not find any significant association in total migraine patients in the use of mesalazine, disease duration, immunomodulators, surgeries or hospitalizations, neither in total number of patients nor stratified by sex. Conclusion Migraine prevalence is higher in patients with IBD than general population, which is a further example of the bidirectional gut-brain interaction. The fact that this association was stronger for women suggests an influence of sex-related factors. ISCIII PI20/01358 and FEDER.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call