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Comorbidity of gastrointestinal disorders, migraine, and tension-type headache: a cross-sectional study in Iran

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Abstract

Migraine can be accompanied by some gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) and different lower and upper GI disorders as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and cholelithiasis. This cross-sectional study included 1574 overweight and obese participants who were referred to the Obesity Research Center of Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The diagnosis of migraine and TTH was made by an expert neurologist based on the international classification of headache disorders-III β (ICHD III β). GI disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, heartburn, dyspepsia, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), and cholelithiasis, were diagnosed by a gastroenterology specialist. The overall mean age of participants was 37.44 ± 12.62. A total of 181 (11.5%) migraine sufferers (with and without aura) and 78 (5%) TTH subjects were diagnosed. After adjusting for potential confounders by multivariable regression models, migraine had significant association with IBS (OR = 5.16, 95% CI = 2.07–12.85, P = 0.000), constipation (OR = 3.96, 95% CI = 2.25–6.99, P = 0.000), dyspepsia (OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 2.63–6.45, P = 0.000), and heartburn (OR = 5.03, 95% CI 2.45–10.33, P = 0.000), while the association between migraine and NAFLD was marginally significant (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 0.98–4.21, P = 0.055). Furthermore, the prevalence of NAFLD (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.29–6.65, P = 0.010) and dyspepsia (OR = 4.06, 95% CI = 2.24–7.34, P = 0.000) was significantly higher in TTH patients than the headache-free group. These findings show an association between GI disorders and primary headaches especially migraine and are, therefore, of value to the management of migraine and TTH. Further studies should investigate the etiology of the relationship between all subtypes of primary headaches and GI disorders.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Obesity Clinic of Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences for their kind cooperation.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, West Arghavan St., Farahzadi Blvd, Tehran, Iran

    Fahimeh Martami

  2. Headache Department, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zeinab Ghorbani & Mansoureh Togha

  3. School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zeinab Ghorbani

  4. Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Abolhasani

  5. Community and Preventive Medicine Department, Medical Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Alipasha Meysamie

  6. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Alireza Sharifi

  7. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi

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  1. Fahimeh Martami
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  7. Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi.

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This study was approved by the ethical committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) Tehran, Iran. Informed consent was obtained from each participant.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Fahimeh Martami and Zeinab Ghorbani have equally taken part.

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Martami, F., Ghorbani, Z., Abolhasani, M. et al. Comorbidity of gastrointestinal disorders, migraine, and tension-type headache: a cross-sectional study in Iran. Neurol Sci 39, 63–70 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3141-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3141-0

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