title: Headache and multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study in Catania, Sicily.
abstract: We carried out a population-based case-control study to evaluate the association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and headache. We had previously determined the incidence of MS during 1990-1999 in Catania, Sicily, identifying 155 incident MS patients; these subjects underwent a telephone interview using a standardized questionnaire for headache. Diagnosis and classification of headaches were made according to International Headache Society criteria (1988). A control group was selected from the general population through random digit dialling. One hundred and one (65.2%) MS patients, of the 155 identified, and 101 controls were screened for headaches. Fifty-eight (57.4%) MS patients and 38 (37.2%) controls fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of headache. A significant association between MS and headache was found with an adjusted odds ratio, estimated by logistic regression, of 2.18 (95% confidence interval 1.27, 3.93). Frequency of headaches in our MS population is higher than in the general population, supporting the hypothesis of a possible association between these two conditions.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nicoletti
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Patti
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Lo Fermo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Liberto
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castiglione
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Laisa
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Garifoli
authors: F
authors: F
authors: La Naia
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Maimone
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Sorbello
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Contrafatto
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zappia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology