Metabolic syndrome in female migraine patients is associated with medication overuse headache: a clinic-based study in China.

BACKGROUND AND
PURPOSE: Migraine and metabolic syndrome have been reported to coexist to a marked degree, especially in women migraine patients, but the relationship between these two conditions is still unclear. This study was performed to evaluate the association of headache characteristics and its comorbidities with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in female migraine patients.
METHODS: A total of 142 women with migraine who fulfilled the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd edition were recruited in a neurological outpatient department in China. The characteristics of migraine and its comorbidities (analgesic use, psychiatric disorders and disability) were assessed with a detailed questionnaire. Anthropometrics, blood biochemistry and transcranial Doppler sonography were used for metabolic measurements and vascular function.
RESULTS: Of 142 participants, 70.4% had one or more metabolic abnormalities and 12.0% had MetS. After adjustment for age, residence, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, smoking and drinking history, chronic migraine in women patients was associated with MetS [odds ratio (OR) = 5.342, P = 0.032], but when the chronic migraine patients were comorbid with medication overuse headache (MOH), the risk for MetS increased significantly (OR = 12.68, P = 0.007). In addition, MOH was associated with abdominal obesity and hypertension amongst the components of MetS (OR = 4.205 and 3.234, P = 0.043 and 0.039, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study may suggest that chronic migraine is associated with MetS, especially when it is comorbid with analgesic overuse. MOH may be the risk factor for MetS in female migraine patients and associated with abdominal obesity and hypertension.