Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferers

This research aimed to compare the sociodemographic profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferers. The study analyzed data from the AMPP survey, which included 24,000 headache sufferers. Among them, 655 had chronic migraine while 11,249 had episodic migraine. Respondents with chronic migraine had significantly lower household incomes and less full-time employment. They were also more likely to experience occupational disability compared to those with episodic migraine. Chronic migraine sufferers were about twice as likely to report depression and anxiety. Additionally, they experienced more chronic pain than episodic migraine sufferers. Common respiratory disorders like asthma and bronchitis were more frequent in chronic migraine patients. Cardiac risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, were also reported more often. These findings indicate that chronic and episodic migraine sufferers have distinct sociodemographic and comorbidity characteristics beyond headache frequency. Clinical relevance: This study highlights the need for tailored treatment approaches for chronic migraine patients.