Abstract
Aim: To examine the effect of sex on migraine trigger factors. Methods: Prevalence of 11 frequently reported trigger factors was determined in a cross-sectional study among migraine patients from a validated migraine database (n = 5725 females and n = 1061 males). Female-to-male odds ratios were calculated for each trigger, using a logistic regression model with attack frequency and migraine subtype (with or without aura) as covariates. Additionally, the effect of sex on total number of triggers per individual was determined. Results: The top three most reported triggers in women were menstruation (78%), stress (77%), and bright light (69%). Men reported stress (69%), bright light (63%), and sleep deprivation (60%) most frequently as provoking factors. The following triggers were more often reported by women than men: Bright light (odds ratio 1.29 [95% CI 1.12–1.48]; p = 0.003), stress (1.47 [1.27–1.69]; p < 0.001), skipping a meal (1.24 [1.09–1.42]; p = 0.015), sleep deprivation (1.37 [1.20–1.57]; p < 0.001), high altitudes (1.70 [1.40–2.09]; p < 0.001), and weather changes (1.35 [1.18–1.55]; p < 0.001). Women reported more triggers than men, even when menstruation was disregarded (mean ± SD: 4.6 ± 2.3 and 4.3 ± 2.3; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Women report migraine trigger factors to be provocative of their attacks more frequently than men, which may be related to a lower migraine threshold due to sex hormonal changes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 643-648 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Cephalalgia |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw).
Funding Information:
The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: GMT reports consultancy support from Novartis, Lilly, Teva, and independent support from Dutch Organization for Scientific Research, and the Dutch Heart & Brain Foundations. AMvdB reports consultancy or industry support from Novartis, Lilly and Teva, and independent support from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research and the Dutch Heart & Brain Foundations. DSvC and IEV report independent support from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research and the Dutch Brain Foundation. GLJO has no conflict of interest to declare.
Publisher Copyright:
© International Headache Society 2020.