The relationship of pain, disability, and kinesiophobia levels with heart rate variability in patients with migraine: A prospective cross-sectional study

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the relationship among pain level, disability, kinesiophobia, and heart rate variability (HRV), which is considered one of the indicators of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in patients with migraine. Patients and methods: The prospective cross-sectional study was completed with a total of 37 female patients (mean age: 34.7±2.1 years; range, 18 to 62 years) with migraine between July 2022 and April 2023. Pain levels were measured with the Visual Analog Scale, headache-related disability was measured with the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), kinesiophobia levels were measured with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and HRV measurements were made with the Polar H10 model heart rate monitor. Results: Sixteen patients with migraine with aura and 21 without aura were identified. Statistically significant, positive, and low-level relationships were found between the participants' daytime pain levels and low frequency peak values, as well as between MIDAS scores and minimum heart rate values (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant negative and low-level correlation between kinesiophobia measurement data and maximum heart rate values (p<0.05). No significant correlations were found between other parameters of HRV and other outcome measures (p>0.05). Conclusion: Since HRV is considered an indicator of ANS activity, it may be an effective factor on clinical variables in patients with migraine, and there may be a connection between pain, kinesiophobia, and the ANS. Therefore, it could be meaningful to consider these factors in the evaluation and treatment of patients with migraine.