title: Correlation between Migraine Severity and Cholesterol Levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have documented increased cardiovascular risk factors, particularly hypercholesterolemia, in the migraine population with respect to controls. However, no studies have investigated the possible relationship between headache severity parameters and lipid serum levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the lipid asset in 52 migraine patients (17 with and 36 without aura) before and after treatment with drugs for migraine prophylaxis for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High frequency (HF, ≥ 8/month) and intensity (HI, ≥ 5 Numeric Rating Score) vs. low frequency (LF, < 8/month) and intensity (LI, < 5) of crises were associated with significantly higher cholesterol levels, both total (TC, HF vs. LF, P < 0.0001; HI vs. LI, P < 0.0001) and LDL (LDL-c, HF vs. LF, P < 0.0001, and HI vs. LI, P < 0.0001). In treated patients, a significant decrease in number and intensity of crises was associated with a significant reduction of TC and LDL-c (P < 0.001). A direct linear correlation was also found between frequency and intensity of crises and lipid levels (TC/frequency, P < 0.0001; TC/intensity, P < 0.0001; LDL-c/frequency, P < 0.0001; LDL-c/intensity, P < 0.0001). No significant difference was found in the evaluated parameters for the subgroups of patients with and without aura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a significant positive association between migraine frequency and intensity with total and LDL cholesterol, demonstrating for the first time a significant reduction of these lipid parameters after migraine prophylaxis. However, in view of the retrospective design of the study and the small population size, these results should be considered as preliminary, to be confirmed by future prospective controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|Center of Excellence on Headache, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tana
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Regional Referral Headache Centre, "Sant'Andrea" Hospital, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelletti
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Headache, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Vincenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|European Center of Excellence on Atherosclerosis, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cipollone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davì
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.|Center of Excellence on Headache, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Adele
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Giamberardino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL
keywords: Framingham score; LDL cholesterol; cardiovascular risk; headache; migraine; total cholesterol