Abstract :
It would be beneficial to prevent the progression of episodic migraines to chronic migraines. However, risk factors associated with chronic migraine in the Western population have been studied and may not generalize to the Asian population due to differences in lifestyle, physical features, and disease prevalence. We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients 15 years or older with migraines who first visited the Chulalongkorn Comprehensive Headache Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand. Patients’ data from a standardized patient record form created by the center was collected and analyzed using t-tests or chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression for independent risk factors. Of 285 patients who had been screened, 213 were diagnosed with migraine. Seventy-eight patients were chronic migraine and 25 were migraine plus probable chronic migraine plus probable medication-overuse headaches that were assigned to a chronic migraine group. Episodic migraine was diagnosed in the remaining. The independent risk factors discovered associated with the chronic migraine group included dizziness comorbidity (odds ratio=3.55), neck pain (odds ratio=2.51), dull aching pain/pressing quality (odds ratio=3.44), mean pain intensity score (odds ratio=1.28), working/studying status (odds ratio=0.30) and unilateral pain location (odds ratio=0.52). Prevention of progression of episodic migraine to chronic migraine should address treatment of neck pain and controlling pain intensity. Monitoring pain location and pain quality should also be given prompt treatment before changes.
