Frequency and types of headache in patients with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome and headache affected by many precipitating factors are the common and important public health problems. Although there are numerous studies about metabolic syndrome that in recent years observed an increase in its frequency and involved in the etiology of many co-morbid disease, there are a few studies that investigated of characteristics together of both metabolic syndrome and headache. In this study we aimed that determination of frequency and types of headache, evaluation of relationship between characteristics of headache and clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome. Totally, 202 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to 2005 IDF criteria in the Neurology and Endocrinology Polyclinics of Medical School of Bülent Ecevit University between July 2011 and July 2012 were included in the study. IHS 2004 criteria were used for the diagnosis of headache. Hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol, thyroid function tests and HbA1c levels were recorded in all of the 202 patients included in the study. STOP-BANG test, Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Scales were applied to all of the patients and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale was performed in the patients with headache. The severity of headache was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale. The frequency of headache was found to be 61,4% in patients with metabolic syndrome. The frequency of headache was higher in females (F: 86,4%, M: 13,6%). Distribution of subtypes of headache as follows; 24,8% of Tension-Type Headache, 14,4% of Migraine, 11,3% of Chronic Daily Headache, 7,9% of Episodic Tension-Type Headache and Migraine and 3% of the other types of headache. Significantly correlation was detected according to body mass index, waist circumference and laboratory parameters between patients with and without headache as well as subtypes of headache (p>0,05). Beck Depression Scale and Beck Anxiety Scale means were higher in the patient group with headache (p< 0,001 ve p< 0,001). There was no significant difference between Migraine Disability Assessment Scale means in the subtypes of headache (p=0,35). Significantly correlation was detected between frequency, duration and severity of episode and only triglyceride levels among the parameters investigated in the patient group with headache. Triglyceride levels were positively correlated with the frequency (p=0,016) and duration (p=0,02) of episode. Consequently, the frequency of headache found to be 61,4% in the patients with metabolic syndrome. The incidence of subtypes of headache and rates of general population were similar. Statistical correlation was observed between the frequency and severity of headache episode and the triglyceride levels. This correlation may be important in terms of draw attention to evaluation of triglyceride levels and triglyceride-lowering diet in reducing the frequency and severity of headache episode in patients with headache.