Association of excessive daytime sleepiness with migraine and headache frequency in the general population.
BACKGROUND
Some previous studies have postulated an association between migraine and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). This study evaluated the association of EDS with migraine and headache frequency in a general population, after adjusting for potential confounding variables.


METHODS
The study was a postal survey of a random age and gender-stratified sample of 40,000 persons aged 20 to 80 years old drawn by the National Population Register in Norway. The questionnaire included questions about migraine, headache, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and various comorbidities. EDS was defined as ESS > 10. The association of EDS and migraine/headache were analysed by bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
A total of 21,177 persons responded to the ESS and were included in the analyses. The odds ratio (OR) for EDS was increased for migraineurs (1.42 (95% CI 1.31─1.54), p < 0.001) compared to non-migraineurs; however, this finding was not significant after adjustment for a number of possible confounders. EDS increased with increasing headache frequency, with an OR of 2.74 (95% CI 2.05─3.65), p < 0.001) for those with headache on >179 days per year compared to those without headache in multivariable analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In a general population, the odds for EDS increased significantly with the headache frequency, irrespective of migraine status. EDS was not associated with reported migraine in multivariable analysis.
Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no.|Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Medical Division, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no.|Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@medisin.uio.no.
Knut
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4512-8000
K
Stavem
Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Lørenskog, Norway.
Håvard Anton
HA
Kristiansen
Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Department of General Practice, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Espen Saxhaug
ES
Kristoffersen
Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|C3 Centre for Connected Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.|BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway.
Kari Jorunn
KJ
Kværner
Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Lørenskog, Norway.
Michael Bjørn
MB
Russell
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
Epidemiology; Excessive daytime sleepiness; Headache; Migraine