Prevalence of Migraine Headaches in Patients with Epilepsy: A Study in Referrals to the Neurology Clinic of Alavi Hospital, Ardabil

Background and Objective: Epilepsy and migraine are two common neurological disorders associated with the central nervous system.While numerous studies have separately focused on these conditions, limited information exists regarding the co-occurrence of these two diseases.This study aims to determine the prevalence of migraine headaches and their characteristics in patients with epilepsy.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 500 patients diagnosed with epilepsy by a neurologist between 2019 and 2021.The patients were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data were collected using a questionnaire and detailed patient history to assess migraine headaches.Results: A total of 146 patients (29.2%) were found to have migraine headaches.Among the types of migraine, migraine with aura was observed in 45 patients (30.8%), migraine without aura in 76 patients (52.1%), and both migraine with and without aura in 25 patients (17.1%). Conclusion:The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of migraine headaches in patients with epilepsy is significant, with nearly one-third of these patients suffering from migraine.Migraine without aura was the most prevalent type among the migraine subtypes.These results suggest a potential overlap of pathophysiological mechanisms between epilepsy and migraine, emphasizing the importance of a thorough evaluation of migraine headaches in patients with epilepsy.Special attention to this co-occurrence may contribute to better management of patients and improvement in their quality of life.