Skip to main content
BMC Women's Health logoLink to BMC Women's Health
. 2023 Dec 2;23:642. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02810-5

Association between risk factors and migraine in Pakistani females

Nida Razzak 1, Hina Khan 1,✉, Huma Tariq 2, Muhammad Aslam 3,✉
PMCID: PMC10693022  PMID: 38042798

Abstract

Background

Migraine is a typical cripple issue of the brain identified with cerebral pain which is an indication of numerous health conditions. About 18% of women (27 million) and 6% of men (10 million) are afflicted by migraine in the United States. Based on a case-control study, to explore the different risk factors, causing migraine in females and examine the association between risk factors and migraine.

Methods

A sample of 1055 individuals were selected in different areas of Lahore from September 2019 to March 2020. The information was obtained by using the direct interview method and questionnaire method. Descriptive analysis, bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out in data analysis.

Results

Among 1055 individuals 740 cases and 315 controls were included. In a binary logistic regression model, physical activities, stress, summer season, menstruation and morning were the risk factors that cause migraine and these were found to be positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (1.399; 1.122–1.746), (1.510; 1.187–1.922), (1.595; 1.374–1.851), (1.513; 1.247–1.836) and (1.309; 1.028–1.665) respectively. Nausea, isolation and back head pain were caused by migraine and these were found positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios(1.290; 1.122–1.484), (1.882; 1.617–2.190) and (1.285; 1.123–1.471) respectively.

Conclusions

Stress, physical Activities and Menstruation increase the risk of migraine but weight loss, Breakfast, lunch, thirst, injury and Second trimester during pregnancy reduce the risk of migraine.

Keywords: Migraine disease, Risk factors, Chi-square, Logistic regression, Association

Background

Migraine is the most common and typical cripple issue of the brain with the neurological cause of disability in the world [1]. International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) is highly useful (96 and 98% respectively) than ICHD-3 beta for the diagnosis of migraine with aura and with typical aura [2]. The odds of touring headache emergency departments are significantly lower in Germany, France and UK as compared to Canada and Australia [3]. Migraine is a disabling disorder that occurs three times more in women than men. About 18% of women and 6% of men suffer from migraine in the United States [4]. Migraine is more common in women of middle age than men [5]. Women who experience Probable Migraine with Aura (PMWA) and smoke as well as using oral contraceptives methods have chances of having a stroke 7 times more than other women with PMWA [6]. Family history is the most important and consistent risk factor of migraine [7]. Migraine is nearly 3% of all the prevalent diseases of disability worldwide [8]. The composition of white matter varies in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) [9]. In episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM), the expenditure of treatment is significantly higher for women than men. The annual direct expenditure of treatment for chronic migraine is 4.8 fold higher than that of episodic migraine [10].

Education, environmental display, travel, and oral contraceptives exposure nearly 75% of the underlying risks [11]. Migraine is a risk factor for ischemic stroke in young women and ischaemic stroke is strongly associated with migraine, both migraine without aura and migraine with aura [12]. In migraineurs, women, contemporary use of oral contraceptives, high blood pressure or smoking are a great effect on the odds ratios for ischemic stroke associated with migraine in young women [13]. Migraineurs with aura can suffer from at least one attack per week and are likely to low intake of chocolate, ice cream and processed meats [14]. Weight loss may help to alleviate migraine in obese individuals. The relation of weight loss to those changes was assessed and the patients reporting moderate to severe disability decreased from 12(50.0%) before bariatric surgery to 3 (12.5%) after bariatric surgery [15]. Women with menstrual migraine experience higher headache intensity during early pregnancy and postpartum as compared with those without menstrual migraine [16]. Perceived stress affects greatly the quality of life. The relationship between stress and migraine is quite strong. Mean Perceived stress scale score is higher in chronic migraine patients than those in controls, after adjusting for education and anxiety [17]. Migraine is more common and related among depressed people, especially in females and in married women [18]. The prevalence of the most prevalent primary headaches, including migraine and tension-type headache, peaks between the ages of 20 and 40 and then decreases as people become older [19]. The survey of Korean patients with migraine illustrates that there are significant problems and unsatisfied needs to diagnosis, awareness, and treatment. The significant levels of disability, pain severity, and reduced quality of life are accomplished by Korean patients with migraine due to the burden of disease [20]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact and severity of migraine are increased due to many risk factors such as disruption of sleep, anxiety and depression, dietary habits, lack of communication with treating neurologists and working [21]. During COVID-19 lockdown migraine symptoms are improved in the Netherlands due to lifestyle changes that can significantly improve the course of migraine [22]. The pain of migraine is higher among those individuals that can be influenced by complex emotional perception. Pain-related anxiety plays an important role in headache-related disability [23]. More details can be seen in [24–34].

This study was conducted to identify different risk factors of migraine in females and to identify the relationship between risk factors and migraine. Finally, to create awareness among females about risk factors of migraine.

Methods

Study design

This case-control study was performed to look at the risk factors of migraine in females. The network sampling method was used to collect data about migraine patients from the household, working, married women’s and female students. Samples were drawn from universities, colleges, parks, urban and rural areas due to non-probability sampling. The cross-sectional study was performed at Lady Willingdon, Lady Aschen, Gosh-e-Shifa, and Mayo hospitals from September 2019 to March 2020. In this study 315 controls those who were not affected due to migraine and 740 cases those who were affected due to migraine. We were taken great effort to use strong statistical procedures and stringent selection criteria to minimize bias and make sure that our control group is as representative as possible of the larger population of females in Pakistan, even if the size of the control group is lower. In this case– control study 315 age and gender-matched controls were included.

Inclusion criteria

The inclusion criteria are a standard that is used to determine whether cases or controls will be included in the research. Below is a list of this requirement.

In this study, patients of various ages were enrolled.

The question was are you suffering from migraine?

Responses on the Likert Scale.

1 = “No” (I don’t have a migraine).

2 = “Rarely” (I sometimes get minor migraine symptoms).

3 = “Sometimes” (I occasionally but sporadically suffer migraine symptoms).

4 = “Frequently” (I frequently suffer from migraine symptoms).

5 = “Always” (I get severe migraine symptoms all the time).

For cases: Respondents who indicate on the Likert scale that they “Frequently” (4) or “Always” (5) get migraine symptoms.

For controls: Respondents who choose “No” (1), “Rarely” (2), or “Sometimes” (3) on the Likert scale serve as controls [35].

Flow chart depicting the inclusion of participants in the study is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Flow chart depicting the inclusion of participants in the study

Instrument of the study

To gather information, a self-designed questionnaire was developed for both cases and controls [36]. The reliability of the questionnaire, as determined by Cronbach’s Alpha, was 0.95. A questionnaire is a set of written questions that are utilized with the end goal of information collection or statistical study. The questions included in the questionnaire, cover all the conceivable risk factors which include demographic variables: age, marital status, area, education level, social status, working status; clinical variables: health, severity, migraine start side, more than one type, physical activities, medication, last 4 hours, last 4–6 hours, last between 4and 72 hours; and symptoms variables: stress, upset, nausea, bright light, sunshine, yawing, zigzag lines, breakfast, lunch, travelling, shoulder stiffness in summer, in winter, quiet room cold drinks, menstrual cycle. The direct and face to face personal interviewing method was adopted from the cases and controls in hospitals, urban as well as rural areas [36]. 28 independent variables were included in the study, and the dependent variable is the suffering from migraine.

Data collection

The network sampling method was used for data collection. The work of data collection started after the research issue was characterized and the research design was worked out. Data was gathered via questionnaire and face to face interview method. In this study 182 patients were under the age of 18 years whose data were collected through verbal consent from their parents, siblings and doctors. The total sample size was 1067 with a 95% confidence interval and 0.03 margin of error but the data collection procedure was stopped due to COVID-19 lockdown and collect total sample size was 1055 subjects. It is indicated by n. A very small number of samples were collect nearly 4 to 5 samples during lockdown with stringent precautionary measures.

Significance of the study

The researcher truly expects that this review will be useful and can give a contribution to the certain gathering, as follow,

  • i.

    It will be valuable for a new researcher to sort out new factors influencing this disease.

  • ii.

    It might be advantageous for an overall population that they can take on these safety measures for keeping away from this life harming disease.

  • iii.

    It will be useful for strategy creators that they can carry out such strategies which will be life-saving and prevent migraine.

  • iv.

    It will be helpful for clinical staff that they can find out its starting point and guide their patients in a better way.

  • v.

    It will helpful for patients to prevent risk factors of migraine.

Data analysis

After the data collection, the next and the most troublesome task was to analyze the information and sort out the outcomes. The software SPSS was utilized for the information processing and analysis. Descriptive and analytical outcomes were calculated, utilizing different statistical techniques, which include percentages, frequencies, Chi-square and binary logistic regression model. To determine the p-value and to look for a relationship between migraine and risk factors, the Chi-Square test was used [37]. Since the variables in the QOL section are categorical and chi-square handles qualitative variables, we were utilized it there. The distribution difference of a few chosen variables between migraine patients and healthy controls was assessed using the chi-square test. In regression analysis included Odds Ratio, 95% Confidence Interval, and p-values. The later results were considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results

In this study of 1055 subjects, out of which 740 were cases and 315 were controls. Only females were considered. The analysis was conducted in which descriptive and analytical part was performed for explaining the different risk factors of the disease.

Population density facts

The below table shows that among 740 patients with migraine, the counts (percentages) of 21–30 age interval was 316(42.70%), 386(52.16%) were married and 286(38.65%) have a graduate level. In urban areas, the counts (percentages) of cases and controls are 529(71.49%) and 206(65.40%), respectively. Rupees from Pakistan were used as payment. Income was used to determine social class, which was then separated into three groups: lower class (income < 20,000), middle class (Income 20,000–10,000), and high class (Income 10,000–100,000) [36]. In the case of patients with migraine, the counts (percentages) in the upper, middle and lower class are 30(4.05%), 690(93.24%) and 20(2.70%), respectively. Most of the cases belong to middle class. In cases most of the participants i.e., 529(71.49%) belongs to urban areas. According to a recent update on acute and preventative therapies for migraine in children and adolescents, only around 5% of American children and adolescents who are 10 years old suffer from migraines [7]. In order to provide total openness in our data presentation, we have included an age category for individuals who are younger than 10 years old. Complete population density facts are given below in Table 1.

Table 1.

Population Density Facts of the Participants

Variables Categories Migraine
Yes No IRR Chi-square p-value
Age <  10 1 (0.13) 0 (0) 0.000
11–20 182(24.60) 100(31.75) 1.82
21–30 316(42.70) 123(39.05) 2.569106
31–40 164 (22.16) 59 (18.73) 2.779661
41–50 62 (8.34) 25 (7.93) 2.48
> 50 15 (2.03) 8 (2.54) 1.875
Marital Status Married 386 (52.16) 134 (42.54) 2.880597 8.553 0.036
Single 340 (45.94) 173(54.92) 1.965318
Divorced 5(0.67) 2(0.63) 2.5
Widowed 9(1.22) 6(1.90) 1.5
Area Rural 211(28.51) 109(36.60) 1.93578 3.877 0.05
Urban 529(71.49) 206(65.40) 2.567961
Education Level Metric 96(12.97) 34(10.79) 2.823529 8.706 0.121
Intermediate 150(20.27) 55(17.46) 2.727273
Graduation 286(38.65) 133(42.22) 2.150376
Post graduation 156(21.08) 75(23.81) 2.08
Uneducated 52(7.03) 18(5.71) 3.4
Social Status Upper class 30(4.05) 6(1.90) 0.333333 4.401 0.111
Middle class 690(93.24) 304(96.51) 5
Lower class 20(2.70) 5(1.59) 2.269737
Working Status Yes 316(42.70) 110(34.92) 4 5.558 0.018
No 424(57.29) 205(65.08) 2.872727

Clinical traits of participants

Among 740 cases, most of the participants had an average of 394(53.24%) health in general, this means that mostly females with migraine are in general health, neither in good health nor in bad health. 334(45.13%) has moderate severity of migraine and 306(41.35%) have right side migraine start. The participants 180(24.32%) have more than one type of migraine and 550(74.32%) prefer a quiet room during migraine. Table 2 shows statistically significant associations of migraine with health, severity, migraine start, types and quiet room.

Table 2.

Clinical Traits of Participants

Variables Categories Migraine
Yes No IRR Chi-square p-value
Health in general Excellent 29(3.92) 31(9.84) 0.935484 22.363 0.000
Good 282(38.11) 138(43.81) 2.043478
Average 394(53.24) 129(40.95) 3.054264
Poor 35 (4.73) 17(5.39) 2.058824
None 17(2.29) 284(90.16) 11.66667
Severity of migraine Mild 105(14.19) 9(2.86) 41.75 801.09 0.000
Moderate 334(45.13) 8(2.54) 21.07692
Severe 274(37.02) 13(4.13) 0.094737
Others 27(3.65) 285(90.48) 42.8
From where your migraine start Left side 214(28.92) 5(1.59) 27.81818 867.57 0.000
Right side 306(41.35) 11(3.49) 15.92308
Both sides 207(27.97) 13(4.13) 0.041958
Others 12(1.62) 286(90.79) 53.66667
More than one type of migraine Yes 161(21.75) 3(0.95) 20 319.25 0.000
Sometimes 180(24.32) 9(2.86) 39
Often 117(15.81) 3(0.95) 7.5
Rarely 30(4.05) 4(1.27) 0.851351
No 252(34.05) 296(93.97) 8.461538 467.57 0.000
Prefer a quiet room during migraine Yes 550(74.32) 65(20.63) 4.222222
Sometimes 76(10.27) 18(5.71) 4.333333
Often 39(5.27) 9(2.86) 2.923077
Rarely 38(5.135) 13(4.13) 0.17619
No 37(5.00) 210(66.67) 0.935484

Style and quality of life

Among 740 cases and 315 controls, the 5-points Likert scale was used for quality of life assessment in people. Counts (percentages) of physical activities are 357(48.24%), 511(69.05%) patients take breakfast every morning and 469(63.38%) take lunch every day. Maximum patients 468(63.24%) feel upset before migraine and 493(66.62%) patients respond that migraine start due to stress. The majority of the patients 302(40.81%) use the medicine. Table 3 shows that statistically significant associations of migraine with physical activities, stress, upset, medication, avoiding food, lunch, and cold drinks.

Table 3.

Style and quality of life

Variables Categories Migraine
Yes No IRR Chi-square p-value
Limit any physical activities Yes 357(48.24) 18(5.71) 19.83333 593.26 0.000
Sometimes 189(25.54) 6(1.90)
Often 94(12.70) 13(4.12) 7.230769
Rarely 25(3.38) 4(1.27) 6.25
No 75(10.13) 274(86.98) 0.273723
Breakfast each morning Yes 511(69.05) 239(75.87) 2.138075 6.363 0.174
Sometimes 71(9.59) 28(8.89) 2.535714
Often 48(6.49) 14(4.44) 3.428571
Rarely 23(3.10) 5(1.59) 4.6
No 87(11.75) 29(9.21) 3
Lunch each day Yes 469(63.38) 235(74.60) 1.995745 30.134 0.000
Sometimes 132(17.84) 29(9.20) 4.551724
Often 37(5.00) 11(3.49) 3.363636
Rarely 41(5.54) 3(0.95) 13.66667
No 144(19.46) 290(92.06) 1.648649
Are you on medication Yes 302(40.81) 10(3.17) 30.2 242.75 0.000
Sometimes 96(12.97) 8(2.54) 12
Often 49(6.62) 17(5.39) 2.882353
Rarely 38(5.13) 14(4.44) 2.714286
No 255(34.46) 266(84.44) 0.958647
Feel upset before migraine Yes 468(63.24) 18(5.71) 26 555.09 0.000
Sometimes 104(14.05) 17(5.39) 6.117647
Often 67(9.05) 6(1.90) 11.16667
Rarely 22(2.97) 9(2.86) 2.444444
No 79(10.67) 265(84.12) 0.298113
Migraine start due to stress Yes 493(66.62) 16(5.08) 30.8125 614.19 0.000
Sometimes 108(14.59) 12(3.81) 9
Often 61(8.24) 12(3.81) 5.083333
Rarely 20(2.70) 15(4.76) 1.333333
No 58(7.83) 260(82.53) 0.223077
Do you know the type of food to avoid Yes 342(46.21) 15(4.76) 22.8 266.45 0.000
Sometimes 92(12.43) 21(6.66) 4.380952
Often 40(5.40) 9(2.86) 4.444444
Rarely 36(4.86) 3(0.95) 12
No 230(31.08) 267(84.76) 0.861423
Cold drinks cause migraine Yes 79(10.67) 14(4.44) 5.642857 75.84 0.000
Sometimes 61(8.24) 4(1.27) 15.25
Often 51(6.89) 8(2.54) 6.375
Rarely 66(8.91) 3(0.95) 22
No 483(65.27) 286(90.79) 1.688811

Indication of participants

Among 740 patients with migraine 330(44.59%) reported that they usually suffer from nausea/vomiting, 419(56.62%) patients effect by bright light, and 500(67.57%) are affected by noise. 206(27.84%) patients said that they see zigzag lines before migraine, 338(45.67%) have a sunshine cause. Most of the patients 362(48.92%) have shoulder stiffness. Table 4 shows that a significant association of nausea, bright light, noise, lines, sunshine, shoulder stiffness, yawing and travelling with migraine.

Table 4.

Indication of Participants

Variables Categories Migraine
Yes No IRR Chi-square p-value
Suffer from nausea? Yes 330(44.59) 20(6.34) 4.59375 251.51 0.000
Sometimes 147(19.86) 32(10.16) 5
Often 50(6.76) 10(3.17) 1.347826
Rarely 31(4.19) 23(7.30) 0.791304
No 182(24.59) 230(73.01) 9.97619
Does the bright light affect you? Yes 419(56.62) 42(13.33) 2.542373 261.76 0.000
Sometimes 150(20.26) 59(18.73) 2.037037
Often 55(7.43) 27(8.57) 1.608696
Rarely 37(5) 23(7.30) 0.481707
No 79(10.67) 164(52.06) 8.928571
Do noises affect you? Yes 500(67.57) 56(17.78) 2.416667 312.66 0.000
Sometimes 116(15.67) 48(15.24) 1.155556
Often 52(7.03) 45(14.28) 1.2
Rarely 24(3.24) 20(6.35) 0.328767
No 48(6.45) 146(46.34) 8.956522
See zigzag lines before migraine? Yes 206(27.84) 23(7.30) 10.66667 179.72 0.000
Sometimes 160(21.62) 15(4.76) 3.823529
Often 65(8.78) 17(5.39) 3.764706
Rarely 64(8.65) 17(5.39) 1.00823
No 245(33.11) 243(77.14) 11.65517
Sunshine trigger? Yes 338(45.67) 29(9.20) 5.913043 263.21 0.000
Sometimes 136(18.38) 23(7.30) 3.666667
Often 55(7.43) 15(4.76) 2.619048
Rarely 55(7.43) 21(6.67) 2.308176
No 367(49.59) 159(50.48) 6.581818
Shoulder stiffness/neck pain? Yes 362(48.92) 55(17.46) 5.275862 250.65 0.000
Sometimes 153(20.67) 29(9.20) 3.73913
Often 86(11.62) 23(7.30) 2
Rarely 40(5.40) 20(6.34) 0.526596
No 99(13.37) 188(59.68) 6.466667
Yawing before migraine? Yes 194(26.21) 30(9.52) 29.6 199.01 0.000
Sometimes 148(20) 5(1.58) 8.777778
Often 79(10.67) 9(2.85) 5.2
Rarely 52(7.02) 10(3.17) 1.022989
No 267(36.08) 261(82.85) 8.044444
Migraine during travelling? Yes 362(48.91) 45(14.28) 3.179487 212.79 0.000
Sometimes 124(16.75) 39(12.38) 3.047619
Often 64(8.64) 21(6.67) 3.315789
Rarely 63(8.51) 19(6.03) 0.664921
No 127(17.16) 191(60.63) 16.5

Participants set-up

Among 740 cases, the majority of patients 339(45.81%) respond to migraine beginning gradually, 237(22.5%) respond to migraine beginning in the morning and 239(22.7%) respond to migraine beginning in the night sometimes. 272(36.76%) patients respond that they have migraine last between 4 and 72 hours. During summer 354(47.84%) are affected and during winter 289(39.05%) patients are affected. A significant association begins gradually, in the morning, in the night, last 4 hours, last 4–6 days, last 4–72 hours, during summer, during winter, during the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy with migraine. The participants set-up is shown in Table 5.

Table 5.

Participants Set-Up

Variables Categories Migraine
Yes No IRR Chi-square p-value
Does your migraine typically begin gradually? Yes 339(45.81) 13(4.13) 26.07692 597.15 0.000
Sometimes 196(26.48) 8(2.54) 24.5
Often 73(9.86) 4(1.27) 18.25
Rarely 41(5.54) 3(0.95) 13.66667
No 91(12.29) 287(91.11) 0.317073
Begin in the morning? Yes 231(31.21) 6(1.90) 38.5 412.18 0.000
Sometimes 195(26.35) 6(1.90) 32.5
Often 79(10.67) 2(0.63) 39.5
Rarely 48(6.45) 8(2.54) 6
No 187(25.27) 293(93.01) 0.638225 481.99 0.000
Begin in the night? Yes 210(28.38) 4(1.27) 52.5
Sometimes 225(30.40) 14(4.44) 16.07143
Often 95(12.48) 3(0.95) 31.66667
Rarely 66(8.92) 4(1.27) 16.5
No 144(19.46) 290(92.06) 0.496552
Duration of your migraine usually last 4 hours? Yes 227(30.67) 8(2.54) 28.375 397.19 0.000
Sometimes 196(26.49) 6(1.90) 32.66667
Often 104(14.05) 10(3.17) 10.4
Rarely 37(5) 8(2.54) 4.625
No 176(23.78) 283(89.84) 0.621908
Does migraine duration usually last 4–6 days? Yes 220(29.72) 5(1.59) 44 350.31 0.000
Sometimes 151(20.40) 6(1.90) 25.16667
Often 92(12.43) 8(2.54) 11.5
Rarely 58(7.83) 5(1.59) 11.6
No 219(29.59) 315(100) 0.695238
Does migraine last between 4 and 72 hours? Yes 272(36.76) 12(3.81) 22.66667 301.27 0.000
Sometimes 105(14.19) 6(1.90) 17.5
Often 59(7.97) 3(0.95) 19.66667
Rarely 59(7.97) 6(1.90) 9.833333
No 245(33.10) 288(91.43) 0.850694
Migraine during summer? Yes 354(47.84) 14(4.44) 25.28571 420.84 0.000
Sometimes 130(17.56) 19(6.03) 6.842105
Often 90(12.16) 8(2.53) 11.25
Rarely 45(6.08) 19(6.03) 2.368421
No 121(16.35) 255(80.95) 0.47451
Migraine during winter? Yes 289(39.05) 12(3.80) 24.08333 302.08 0.000
Sometimes 139(18.78) 20(6.34) 6.95
Often 71(9.59) 13(4.12) 5.461538
Rarely 59(7.97) 14(4.44) 4.214286
No 182(24.59) 256(81.26) 0.710938
Migraine during Menstrual Cycle? Yes 281(37.97) 9(2.85) 31.22222 331.40 0.000
Sometimes 163(22.02) 11(3.49) 14.81818
Often 52(7.02) 11(3.49) 4.727273
Rarely 40(5.40) 7(2.22) 5.714286
No 204(27.56) 277(87.93) 0.736462
Affected 2 days before bleeding start until 3 days? Yes 251(33.92) 8(2.53) 31.375 347.65 0.000
Sometimes 176(23.78) 10(3.17) 17.6
Often 62(8.38) 6(1.90) 10.33333
Rarely 45(6.08) 7(2.22) 6.428571
No 206(27.83) 284(90.15) 0.725352
Migraine during pregnancy? Yes 159(21.48) 13(4.12) 12.23077 91.36 0.000
Sometimes 50(6.75) 3(0.95) 16.66667
Often 23(3.10) 1(0.31) 23
Rarely 6(0.81) 1(0.31) 6
No 156(21.08) 118(37.46) 1.322034
Not applicable 346(46.75) 179(56.82) 1.932961

A binary logistic regression model was run and under this model, regression coefficients, odds ratio, p-value, and 95% confidence interval for odds ratio are computed. At the 5% level of significance, the p-value is compared. Binary logistic regression described that the most significant risk factors of migraine were weight loss, activities, morning, injury, stress, nausea, Breakfast, lunch, summer, quiet room, pain, thirst, cold drinks, food and second trimester. The statistics are shown in Table 6.

Table 6.

Model Coefficient, Odds Ratios and 95% CI’s for Odds Ratios

Variables β S.E Wald df Sig. Exp(β) 95% CI for Exp(β)
Lower Upper
Weight loss −0.575 0.107 29.102 1 0.000 0.563 0.457 0.694
Begin gradually 0.195 0.108 3.282 1 0.070 1.215 0.984 1.500
Activities 0.336 0.113 8.859 1 0.003 1.399 1.122 1.746
Morning 0.269 0.123 4.784 1 0.029 1.309 1.028 1.665
Upset 0.118 0.119 0.980 1 0.322 1.125 0.891 1.420
Injury −0.376 0.105 12.830 1 0.000 0.687 0.559 0.844
Stress 0.412 0.123 11.241 1 0.001 1.510 1.187 1.922
Last 4–72 hours −0.263 0.126 4.393 1 0.036 0.768 0.601 0.983
Nausea 0.255 0.071 12.720 1 0.000 1.290 1.122 1.484
Travelling −0.134 0.071 3.531 1 0.060 0.875 0.761 1.006
Breakfast −0.206 0.085 5.912 1 0.015 0.814 0.689 0.961
Lunch −0.532 0.087 37.072 1 0.000 0.588 0.495 0.697
Summer 0.467 0.076 37.854 1 0.000 1.595 1.374 1.851
Winter 0.087 0.075 1.350 1 0.245 1.091 0.942 1.264
Quiet Room 0.632 0.077 66.720 1 0.000 1.882 1.617 2.190
Pain 0.251 0.069 13.262 1 0.000 1.285 1.123 1.471
Thirst −0.185 0.075 6.037 1 0.014 0.832 0.718 0.963
Perfume −0.016 0.073 0.050 1 0.823 0.984 0.852 1.135
Cold Drinks −0.476 0.088 29.159 1 0.000 0.622 0.523 0.739
Food like cheese −0.249 0.088 8.074 1 0.004 0.780 0.657 0.926
Periods 0.184 0.097 3.578 1 0.059 1.202 0.993 1.455
Menstrual cycle 0.414 0.099 17.597 1 0.000 1.513 1.247 1.836
Pregnancy 0.162 0.096 2.868 1 0.090 1.176 0.975 1.418
Second −0.351 0.118 8.838 1 0.003 0.704 0.559 0.887

Logit (p) = −0.575*weight Loss + 0.336*Activities + 0.269*Morning – 0.376*Injury + 0.412*Stress + 0.255*Nausea – 0.206*Breakfast - 0.532*Lunch + 0.467*summer + 0.632*Quiet + 0.251*Pain – 0.185*Thirst - 0.476*Cold drinks – 0.249*Food + 0.414* Menstrual cycle – 0.351*Second.

Discussions

It was observed from the data that nausea is found to be positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (1.290; 1.122–1.484). Out of 740 patients, 330(44.59%) patients respond that they usually suffer from nausea during migraine. In migraine, nausea is a centrally driven symptom that occurs as a premonitory symptom independent of pain and is associated with activation of brain structures known to be involved in nausea [38]. It was observed from the data that stress is found to be positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (1.510; 1.187–1.922). Out of 740 patients, 493(66.62%) patients respond that migraine start due to stress. Stress and migraine are reciprocally related. Migraine is more common and related among depressed people, especially females. The association between migraine and sleep disorders is complex and significant. Improvement of sleep is considered to reduce headache frequency and severity and reduce stress [10-7-30]. Whereas the menstrual cycle is found to be positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (1.513; 1.247–1.836). Women with menstrual migraine have higher headache intensity during early pregnancy and postpartum compared to those without menstrual migraine [16]. Activities, morning, nausea, summer, quiet and pain are found to be positively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (1.399; 1.122–1.746), (1.309; 1.028–1.665), (1.290; 1.122–1.484), (1.595; 1.374–1.851), (1.882; 1.617–2.190) and (1.285; 1.123–1.471) respectively. While six factors in which injury, breakfast, lunch, thirst, drinks and second trimester are found to negatively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (0.687; 0.559–0.844), (0.814; 0.689–0.961), (0.588; 0.495–0.697), and (0.704; 0.559–0.887), respectively. Weight loss is found to be negatively significant with the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of odds ratios (0.563; 0.457–0.694). The relation of weight loss to those changes was assessed and the patients reporting moderate to severe disability decreased from 12(50.0%) before surgery to 3(12.5%) after surgery [15]. Second trimester during pregnancy is observed to be negatively significant with an odds ratio is 0.704 times higher. Around 60–70% of migraineurs experience improvement in migraine during pregnancy; in around 20% attacks disappear. If migraine was not improved by the end of the first trimester it is likely to continue throughout pregnancy and postpartum [16]. Another study described that a significant decrease in the duration of migraine (p < 0.001) during pregnancy as compared to before [7].

Limitations of the study

The important limitation of the study was the sample size collected. The small sample size made it ambitious to conduct analysis. Many further limitations obtain in the interview and data collection previous to analysis. In hospitals and universities, some females refuse to allow for conducting the interview. In hospitals and rural areas, the language issue was confronted where a large number of females did not know the national language. Most of the females do not know about migraine but symptoms were matched so the analysis was difficult if data is unreliable. In our study, the final major limitation was the potential for subject to bias. As with any case-control study, it is conceivable that either cases or controls were differentially bound to subjects than the other.

Conclusions

Stress, Activities, and menstrual cycle increase the risk of migraine but weight loss, Breakfast, and the Second trimester during pregnancy reduce the risk of migraine. The stress had 1.510 times higher of migraine Nausea with an odds ratio of 1.290 and 95% CI of odds ratio (1.122–1.484). So we conclude that the binary response variable suffering from migraine patients who are usually suffering from nausea is 1.290 times more chance than others. Pain (back of the head) with odds ratio 1.285 and 95% CI of odds ratio (1.123–1.471). So we conclude that the binary response variable suffering from migraine patients who are feeling pain on the back of the head is a 1.285 times more chance of getting the disease than others.

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the editor and reviewers for their valuable suggestions to improve the quality of the paper.

Authors’ contributions

NR, HK, HT, MA wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the paper.

Funding

None.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to limitations of ethical approval involving the patient data and anonymity but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

We confirm that all methods were carried out under relevant guidelines and regulations. We confirm that informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The ethical committee at GC University Lahore, Pakistan approved this research under the reference number GC/2021–2/PKEDU. Informed consent to participate was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of any participant under the age of 16. Legally Authorized Representatives of illiterate participants provided informed consent for the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contributor Information

Hina Khan, Email: hinakhan@gcu.edu.pk.

Muhammad Aslam, Email: aslam_ravian@hotmail.com.

References

  • 1.Puledda F, Messina R, Goadsby PJ. An update on migraine: current understanding and future directions. J Neurol. 2017;264(9):2031–2039. doi: 10.1007/s00415-017-8434-y. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Gobel CH, Karstedt SC, Munte TF, Gobel H, Wolfrum S, Lebedeva ER, Royl G. ICHD-3 is significantly more specific than ICHD-3 beta for the diagnosis of migraine with aura and with typical aura. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1072-2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Sanderson JC, Devine EB, Lipton RB, Bloudek LM, Varon SF, Blumenfeld AM, Sullivan SD. Headache-related health resource utilisation in chronic and episodic migraine across six countries. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013;84(12):1309–1317. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-305197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Peterlin BL, Gupta S, Ward TN, Macgregor A. Sex matters: evaluating sex and gender in migraine and headache research. Headache. 2011;51(6):839–842. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2011.01900.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Scher AI, Gudmundsson LS, Sigurdsson S, Ghambaryan A, Aspelund T, Eiriksdottir G, Launer LJ. Migraine headache in middle age and late-life brain infarcts. JAMA. 2009;301(24):2563–2570. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.932. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.MacClellan LR, Giles W, Cole J, Wozniak M, Stern B, Mitchell BD, Kittner SJ. Probable migraine with visual aura and risk of ischemic stroke: the stroke prevention in young women study. Stroke. 2007;38(9):2438–2445. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.488395. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Lateef TM, Cui L, Nakamura E, Dozier J, Merikangas K. Accuracy of family history reports of migraine in a community-based family study of migraine. Headache. 2015;55(3):407–412. doi: 10.1111/head.12501. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Leonardi M, Raggi A. Burden of migraine: international perspectives. Neurol Sci. 2013;34(Suppl 1):S117–S118. doi: 10.1007/s10072-013-1387-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Planchuelo-Gomez A, Garcia-Azorin D, Guerrero AL, Aja-Fernandez S, Rodriguez M, de Luis-Garcia R. White matter changes in chronic and episodic migraine: a diffusion tensor imaging study. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1071-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Negro A, Sciattella P, Rossi D, Guglielmetti M, Martelletti P, Mennini FS. Cost of chronic and journal of headache and pain. 2019;20(1):1–12. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1068-y. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Ray BK, Paul N, Hazra A, Das S, Ghosal MK, Misra AK, Das SK. Prevalence, burden, and risk factors of migraine: a community-based study from eastern India. Neurol India. 2017;65(6):1280. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.217979. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Tzourio C, Tehindrazanarivelo A, Iglésias S, Alpérovitch A, Chedru F, Anglejan-Chatillon J, Bousser MG. Case-control study of migraine and risk of ischaemic stroke in young women. BMJ. 1995;310(6983):830–833. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6983.830. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Chang CL, Donaghy M, Poulter N. Migraine and stroke in young women: a case-control study. BMJ. 1999;318(7175):13–18. doi: 10.1136/bmj.318.7175.13. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Rist PM, Buring JE, Kurth T. Dietary patterns according to headache and migraine status: a cross-sectional study. Cephalalgia. 2015;35(9):767–775. doi: 10.1177/0333102414560634. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Bond D, Vithiananthan S, Nash J, Thomas J, Wing R. Improvement of migraine headaches in severely obese patients after bariatric surgery. Neurology. 2011;76(13):1135–1138. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318212ab1e. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Petrovski BE, Vetvik KG, Lundqvist C, Eberhard-Gran M. Characteristics of menstrual versus non-menstrual migraine during pregnancy: a longitudinal population-based study. J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s10194-018-0853-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Milde-Busch A, Blaschek A, Heinen F, Borggrafe I, Koerte I, Straube A, von Kries R. Associations between stress and migraine and tension-type headache: results from a school-based study in adolescents from grammar schools in Germany. Cephalalgia. 2011;31(7):774–785. doi: 10.1177/0333102410390397. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Jat MI, Afridi MI, Amar W, Lal C. Prevalence of migraine among patients of depressive disorder. Pak J Med Sci. 2018;34(4):964. doi: 10.12669/pjms.344.14693. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Schramm S, Tenhagen I, Schmidt B, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of migraine and non-migraine headache in older people – results of the Heinz Nixdorf recall study. Cephalalgia. 2021;41(6):649–664. doi: 10.1177/0333102420977183. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Kim BK, Chu MK, Yu SJ, Dell'Agnello G, Han JH, Cho SJ. Burden of migraine and unmet needs from the patients' perspective: a survey across 11 specialized headache clinics in Korea. J Headache Pain. 2021;22(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01250-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Al-Hashel JY, Ismail II. Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patients with migraine: a web-based survey study. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):115. doi: 10.1186/s10194-020-01183-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Shimizu T, Sakai F, Miyake H, Sone T, Sato M, Tanabe S, Dodick DW. Disability, quality of life, productivity impairment and employer costs of migraine in the workplace. J Headache Pain. 2021;22(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01243-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Kim S, Bae DW, Park SG, Park JW. The impact of pain-related emotions on migraine. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):577. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80094-7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Haw NJ, Cabaluna IT, Kaw GE, Cortez JF, Chua MP, Guce K. A cross-sectional study on the burden and impact of migraine on work productivity and quality of life in selected workplaces in the Philippines. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):125. doi: 10.1186/s10194-020-01191-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Jedynak J, Eross E, Gendolla A, Rettiganti M, Stauffer VL. Shift from high-frequency to low-frequency episodic migraine in patients treated with Galcanezumab: results from two global randomized clinical trials. J Headache Pain. 2021;22(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01222-w. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Kajal M, Malik M, Kumari R. Correlation of stress with migraine-a review. Int J Curr Res Rev. 2017;9(12):23–26. [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Li C, Li Y, Ma M, Zhang Y, Bao J, Ge W, He L. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on headache symptoms and drug withdrawal among patients with medication overuse headache: a cross-sectional study. J Headache Pain. 2021;22(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01256-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.MacGregor EA. Migraine in pregnancy and lactation: a clinical review. J Fam PlannReprod Health Care. 2007;33(2):83–93. doi: 10.1783/147118907780254312. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Steiner TJ, Stovner LJ, Jensen R, Uluduz D, Katsarava Z, The L, Burden: the Global Campaign against, H Migraine remains second among the world's causes of disability, and first among young women: findings from GBD2019. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s10194-020-01208-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Tiseo C, Vacca A, Felbush A, Filimonova T, Gai A, Glazyrina T, European Headache Federation School of Advanced, S Migraine and sleep disorders: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2020;21(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s10194-020-01192-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Verhagen IE, van Casteren DS, de Vries Lentsch S, Terwindt GM. Effect of lockdown during COVID-19 on migraine: a longitudinal cohort study. Cephalalgia. 2021;41(7):865–870. doi: 10.1177/0333102420981739. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Wilkes MJ, Mendis MD, Bisset L, Leung FT, Sexton CT, Hides JA. The prevalence and burden of recurrent headache in Australian adolescents: findings from the longitudinal study of Australian children. J Headache Pain. 2021;22(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01262-2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Zahid M, Sthanadar A, Kaleem M, Latif M, Sthanadar I, Ali P, Sthanadar I, Ismail M, Imtiaz N, Shah M. Prevalence and perceptions about migraine among students and patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Pakistan; 2014.
  • 34.Krzych ŁJ, Lach M, Joniec M, Cisowski M, Bochenek A. The Likert scale is a powerful tool for quality of life assessment among patients after minimally invasive coronary surgery. Kardiochirurgia i torakochirurgia polska = Polish J Cardio-Thorac Surg. 2018;15(2):130–134. doi: 10.5114/kitp.2018.76480. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Chu S, Wu Z, Wu Z, Wu J, Qian Y. Association between insomnia and migraine risk: a case-control and bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Pharmacogenomics Pers Med. 2021;14:971–976. doi: 10.2147/PGPM.S305780. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Ahmad MR, Pervaiz MK. Risk factors of urinary bladder cancer in Peshawar region of Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa. J Ayub Med Coll, Abbottabad : JAMC. 2010;22(1):160–163. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Fatima T, Iftikhar S, Qureshi IH. Association between hyperuricemia and ischemic stroke: a case-control study. J Coll Physicians Surg--Pak : JCPSP. 2020;30(8):853–856. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2020.08.853. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Maniyar FH, Sprenger T, Schankin C, Goadsby PJ. The origin of nausea in migraine-a PET study. J Headache Pain. 2014;15:84. doi: 10.1186/1129-2377-15-84. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to limitations of ethical approval involving the patient data and anonymity but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.


Articles from BMC Women's Health are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES