Effect of COVID vaccination on monthly migraine days: a longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

Background This longitudinal cohort study aimed to investigate changes in migraine-related outcomes following COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Methods We identified 547 clinically diagnosed migraine patients from the Leiden Headache Center who kept a headache E-diary during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020 to August 2022). We sent a questionnaire to register their COVID-19 infection and/or vaccination dates. After applying inclusion criteria, n = 59 participants could be included in the infection analysis and n = 147 could be included in the vaccination analysis. Primary outcome was the change in monthly migraine days (MMD) between 1 month prior and 1 month post COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Secondary outcome variables were change in monthly headache days (MHD) and monthly acute medication days (MAMD). Results Vaccination against COVID-19 was associated with an increase in MMD (1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57–1.55; p < 0.001), MHD (1.52; 95% CI = 0.91–2.14; p < 0.001) and MAMD (0.72; 95% CI = 0.33–1.12; p < 0.001) in the first month post-vaccination. COVID-19 infection solely increased the number of MAMD (1.11; 95% CI = 0.10–1.62; p < 0.027), but no statistically significant differences in MMD or MHD were observed. Conclusions Our findings imply that vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with an increase in migraine, indicating a possible role of inflammatory mediators in migraine pathophysiology.

Headaches and facial pain attributed to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and vaccination: a systematic review

“…Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 targets the human respiratory system primarily but it can also lead to nervous system dysfunction [2][3][4]. Headache is experienced as a presenting symptom in COVID-19 and as an adverse event (AE) of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, as well as a key symptom in the condition that occasionally follows the resolution of acute COVID-19, the so-called post-COVID-19 condition [5][6][7]. According to the World Health Organization, the post-COVID-19 condition is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation [8].…”

Comment on “Effect of COVID vaccination on monthly migraine days”

“…We found the article "Effect of COVID vaccination on monthly migraine days: A longitudinal cohort study" (1) interesting. During the COVID-19 epidemic, 547 migraine patients kept an E-diary of their headaches.…”

Response to Letter to the Editor, Comment on “Effect of COVID vaccinations on monthly migraine days”

“…We would like to respond to the Letter to the Editor to our study titled “Effect of COVID vaccination on monthly migraine days: A longitudinal cohort study” (1) and the concerns raised by Daungsupawong and Wiwanitkit (2). They raise concern regarding the sample size employed in our study.…”