Analysis of migraine characteristics in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: to identify characteristics of migraine in women in postmenopause (PM) by analyzing the frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks, assessment of quality of life, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances in patients in the reproductive phase (RP) and in the PM.Material and methods. The study comprised 60 migraine patients (30 patients in the RP, 30 patients in the PM). During the personal interview, age, migraine type, frequency and duration of attacks and headache (HA) intensity on the visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. The patients then completed the questionnaires: HIT-6, MIBS-4, HURT, Migraine- ACT, MIDAS, SF-36, HADS, ISQ. The statistical analysis was performed in Microsoft Office Excel 2021.Results. The risk of high intensity HA (≥8 points on the VAS) was significantly higher in patients in the PM than in patients in the RP [p<0.05; relative risk (RR) 1.77]. The risk of necessity of a revision of therapy of attacks was higher in the PM than in the RP (p=0.004; RR=2.2). The risk of insomnia was higher in the PM than in the RP (p=0.004; RR=4.67). The risk of severe headache impact (HIT-6) and high migraine burden (MIBS-4) was higher in patients in the PM than in the RP (ORHIT6=1.7; ORMIBS4=1.78). All indicators of SF-36 quality of life questionnaire were significantly lower in patients in the PM group than in the RP group (p<0.05). The risk of subclinical and clinical anxiety (p<0.05; RR=4.33) and depression (p<0.05; RR=2.75) was significantly higher in the PM than in the RP.Conclusion. Migraine attacks in women in the PM are more intense than in women in the RP, quality of life is lower, and revision of therapy for attacks is required more frequently. Patients with migraine in the PM are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and insomnia. Further research is needed to determine the causes of the observed phenomena and to develop migraine therapy in patients in the PM.