Serum Triglyceride Levels in Pediatric Migraine and Tension-Type Headache: A Retrospective Study

Purpose: Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are the most common primary headache disorders in children. However, potential metabolic differences between these conditions remain incompletely understood.Methods: This retrospective study included pediatric patients diagnosed with migraine or TTH. Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters were compared between the groups. Serum triglyceride (TG) levels were analyzed using multivariable linear regression adjusted for age and sex. Additional analyses included body mass index (BMI)-adjusted models and logarithmically transformed TG analyses.Results: In total, 139 patients were included: 85 with migraine and 54 with TTH. Serum TG data were available for 101 patients. Mean TG levels were significantly higher in patients with TTH than in those with migraine (130.7±80.4 mg/dL vs. 92.1±42.4 mg/dL, p=0.006). This association remained significant after adjustment for age and sex (β=36.61 mg/dL, p=0.004), after logarithmic transformation (p=0.006), and in the BMI-adjusted subgroup analysis (β=42.84 mg/dL, p=0.040).Conclusion: This exploratory retrospective study identified higher serum TG levels in pediatric patients with TTH than in those with migraine. Given the retrospective design and potential for residual confounding, these findings should be considered hypothesis- generating and require confirmation in prospective studies.