Identifying Factors Influencing the Interictal Burden of Migraine in Women

To clarify the factors contributing to the interictal burden of migraine, we conducted a questionnaire survey among women with migraine. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the Internet of 400 women between the ages of 20 and 50 who tested positive on the migraine screener. The subjects were divided into a high burden group (n = 260) and a low burden group (n = 140) according to their Migraine Interictal Burden Scale-4 (MIBS-4) score. Using multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, we demonstrated that Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) score, type of migraine, the causes of headaches (weather changes and anxiety) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score influenced to the interictal burden of migraine. Odds ratios of HIT-6 score, type of migraine, weather changes and anxiety in causes of headaches and ESS score were 3.669 (≤55 vs. ≥56; 95% CI = 1.900 – 7.090), 2.327 (migraine without aura vs. migraine with aura; 95% CI = 1.300 – 4.168), 1.810 (yes vs. no; 95% CI = 1.086 – 3.015), 1.703 (no vs. yes; 95% CI = 1.009 – 2.874) and 1.625 (≤10 vs. ≥11; 95% CI = 1.028 – 2.568), respectively. Our findings suggest that multiple factors independently contribute to the interictal burden of migraine.