A survey of female students with migraine: what is the influence of family history and lifestyle?. (1st February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dzoljic, Eleonora; Vlajinac, Hristina; Sipetic, Sandra; Marinkovic, Jelena; Grbatinic, Ivan; Kostic, Vladimir
• Is Part Of: International journal of neuroscience. Volume 124:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 82
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2014-02-01
• Subjects: Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.805
• DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2013.823961
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7454

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Objectives:</italic> To compare characteristics of migraine and some lifestyle habits in migraineurs with and without a positive family history for migraine. <italic>Method</italic>: The prevalence study was combined with a case-control study and comprised 245 female students with migraine. <italic>Results</italic>: Out of 245 female students with migraine, 132 (53.9%) had a positive family history for migraine. In comparison with migraineurs who had not, those with a positive family history were younger at the onset of migraine and significantly more frequently reported menstrual migraine (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001), unilateral pain ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.05) and pulsate pain ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.05) as well as severe headache ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.01). In comparison to migraineurs with a positive family history for migraine, those who did not report a significantly higher frequency of average number of meals per day of <3 ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.001), missed meals ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.05) and an average sleep duration of ≤6 h ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.05). <italic>Conclusions</italic>: The results of the present study are in line with literature showing a high frequency of positive family history for migraine among migraineurs. They also suggest that subjects with a positive family history have a lower "migrainous threshold" for the development of migraine and that environmental factors are more important for the occurrence of migraine in subjects without a positive family history. Accordingly, the conclusions of this study are limited to reproductive aged women.</p> </abstract>