Migraine in adults with diabetes; is there an association? Results of a population-based study

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the association between migraine and diabetes mellitus while controlling for several socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and lifestyle variables. We also aimed to identify which of these variables are associated with migraine among diabetics.

Patients and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data taken from the European Health Interview Surveys for Spain conducted in 2009/10 (n=22,188) and 2014 (n=22,842). We selected those subjects ≥40 years of age. Diabetes status was self-reported. One non-diabetic control was matched by the year of survey, age, and sex for each diabetic case. The presence of migraine was defined as the affirmative answer to both of the following questions: “Have you suffered migraine or frequent headaches over the last 12 months?” and “Has your physician confirmed the diagnosis?”. Independent variables included demographic and socio-economic characteristics, health status variables, lifestyle, and pain characteristics.

Results

The prevalence of migraine was significantly higher among those suffering from diabetes (14.9% vs. 13.0%; p=0.021). The multivariable analysis showed that diabetes was not associated with a higher risk of migraine (adjusted OR 1.06; 95%CI 0.89–1.25). Among diabetic subjects, female sex, suffering concomitant mental disorders, respiratory disorders, neck pain, and low back pain were variables associated with suffering from migraine.

Conclusion

We found no significant differences in the prevalence of migraine between diabetics and non-diabetic age- and sex-matched controls after controlling for possible confounders.

Keywords:

• diabetes
• headache
• survey
• self-rated health
• comorbidities
• pain medication

Acknowledgments

This study is a part of research funded by the FIS (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias – Health Research Fund, grant number PI16/00564, Instituto de Salud Carlos III); co-financed by the European Union through the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, ‘Una manera de hacer Europa’); and by the Grupo de Excelencia Investigadora URJC-Banco Santander N°30VCPIGI03: Investigación traslacional en el proceso de salud – enfermedad (ITPSE).

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.