Turkey: Study on Migraines During COVID-19

A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic there was a worsening of migraines in more than half of patients. Hatice Yuksel and the team demonstrated a relationship between migraine worsening and mask type, intensive disinfectant use, and the number of masks.

Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that migraine patients, based on individual social and working conditions, should be advised of optimal prevention methods rather than exaggerated preventative measures.

Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of disinfectants and personal protective equipment (PPE) has become necessary for preventing virus transmission. However, the effects of such pandemic obligations on chronic diseases such as migraine have not been fully understood. Dr. Yuksel and the team, therefore, aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the use of masks and disinfectants, on migraine patients.

The study included a total of 310 migraine patients. A face-to-face survey was used to obtain demographic data, migraine characteristics, and mask and disinfectant use. According to pre-pandemic and pandemic migraine characteristics, the patients were divided as worsening, stable, or improving.

Key Findings

• Migraine worsening was found in 177 (57.1%) patients, stable course in 96 (31%) patients, and improvement in 37 (11.9%) patients.
• The use of scalp contact masks and double masks and daily mask duration was higher in the worsening group.
• The frequency of personal disinfectant use was higher in this group.
• In regression analysis, mask type, daily mask duration, presence of allodynia, being a health worker, depression score, and odor were determined as independent risk factors for migraine worsening.
• N95 mask, double mask, and long-term use of masks are risk factors for migraine worsening.
• Personal intensive disinfectant usage is associated with worsening of migraines.
• Individualized prevention methods should be advised to migraine patients.

"A worsening of migraines was seen in more than half of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic," wrote the authors. "We also showed an association between worsening and mask type, the number of masks, and intensive disinfectant use."

"Migraine patients should be advised of optimal prevention methods based on individual social and working conditions rather than exaggerated preventative measures," they conclude.

Reference

The study titled, "The impacts of masks and disinfectants on migraine patients in the COVID-19 pandemic," was published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2022.01.006