Migraine is Strongly Associated with Central Obesity Than with General Obesity: A Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT

Objective: Obesity and migraine are common diseases worldwide, but their association is not confirmed. If an association is proved, weight loss can be made a management objective of a migraine. To assess the risk of migraines in Iraqi patients with general obesity and central obesity.

Material and Methods: A case-control, hospital-based study was conducted at Al-Nuaman Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq from February 2017 to September 2017. One hundred - forty Iraqi patients were enrolled, including 50 patients with migraines and 90 controls without any migraine. General obesity and central obesity were assessed by examining the body mass index and waist-to-height ratio, respectively.

Results: There is a significant association between migraines and general obesity and between migraines and central obesity (p<0.001, odds Ratio: general obesity 6.8, central obesity 12.2).

Conclusion: The risk of migraines in patients with central obesity is double the risk in patients with general obesity.