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The Journal of Headache and Pain

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Migraine and restless legs syndrome are associated in adults under age fifty but not in adults over fifty: a population-based study

Authors: Soo-Jin Cho, Yun Kyung Chung, Jae-Moon Kim, Min Kyung Chu

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Recent studies have shown an association between migraine and restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, migraine prevalence peaks from the 20s to 40s whereas RLS prevalence peaks after the 50s. Despite this, reports on how migraine and RLS may be associated by age is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the comorbidity between migraine and RLS according to age.

Methods

We selected a stratified random population sample of Koreans aged 19 to 69 years and evaluated them with a 60-item semi-structured interview designed to identify RLS, headache type, and clinical characteristics of migraine. To assess the association between migraine and RLS according to age, we divided participants into 5 age groups (19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 years) and analysed each group.

Results

Subjects with migraine showed an increased RLS prevalence in the 19–29 (Odds ratio [OR] = 6.6, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.2–36.8) and 40–49 (OR = 6.7, 95 % CI = 1.5–33.5) age groups compared to non-headache controls but failed to showed a significant association in the 50–59 (OR = 1.1, 95 % CI = 0.2–5.6) and 60–69 (OR = 0.4, 95 % CI = 0.1–4.0) age groups. Migraineurs with 1–10 (12.5 %, OR = 2.0, 95 % CI = 1.3–3.2, p = 0.003) and >10 (12.5 %, OR = 2.5, 95 % CI = 1.0–5.6, p = 0.038) attacks per month showed an increased RLS prevalence compared to migraineurs with <1 attack per month (2.1 %). Subjects with non-migraine headaches showed an increased odds for RLS (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.3–2.7) compared to non-headache controls. There was no significant difference (9.1 % vs. 6.9 %, p = 0.339) in the RLS prevalence between migraineurs and non-migraine headache subjects.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that migraine and RLS are differently associated according to age.

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Title: Migraine and restless legs syndrome are associated in adults under age fifty but not in adults over fifty: a population-based study
Authors: Soo-Jin Cho
Yun Kyung Chung
Jae-Moon Kim
Min Kyung Chu
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-015-0554-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Migraine and restless legs syndrome are associated in adults under age fifty but not in adults over fifty: a population-based study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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