title: Body mass index, migraine, migraine frequency and migraine features in women.
abstract: We evaluated the association of body mass index (BMI) with migraine and migraine specifics in a cross-sectional study of 63 467 women aged > or = 45 years, of whom 12,613 (19.9%) reported any history of migraine and 9195 had active migraine. Compared with women without migraine and a BMI < 23 kg/m(2), women with a BMI > or = 35 kg/m(2) had adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals) of 1.03 (0.95, 1.12) for any history of migraine. Findings were similar for active migraineurs. Women with a BMI of > or = 35 kg/m(2) had increased risk for low and high migraine frequency, with the highest estimate for women who reported daily migraine. Compared with women with the lowest associated risk (migraine frequency < 6 times/year; BMI between 27.0 and 29.9 kg/m(2)), women with a BMI > or = 35 kg/m(2) had an OR of daily migraine of 3.11 (1.12, 8.67). Among the women with active migraine, a BMI > or = 35 kg/m(2) was associated with increased risk of phonophobia and photophobia and decreased risk of a unilateral pain characteristic and migraine aura. Our data confirm previous findings that the association between BMI with migraine is limited to migraine frequency and specific migraine features.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buring
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurth
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012001:Hyperacusis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000453:epidemiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020795:Photophobia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology