Abstract

Background:

Headache is an underestimated burden on general health and social functioning. Accompanying symptoms of headache episodes might influence this impact.

Methods:

In a survey in a headache population in Luxembourg on the social and emotional impact of headaches, accompanying symptoms of headache episodes were evaluated.

Results:

In 1909 participants with episodic (<15 days per month) headaches (77.1% women), visual symptoms (52.4%) and dizziness (51.1%) were frequent accompanying symptoms of headache episodes. Visual symptoms and dizziness were each independently associated with migraine in both genders and independently associated with higher headache-related disability (MIDAS), depression and higher disability in the disease independent WHO Disability Assessment Schedule.

Conclusion:

Dizziness is a frequent accompanying symptom of headache, particularly in migraine. The presence of dizziness has a negative impact on disability and depression associated with headaches. The effect of dizziness was comparable in magnitude but independent from the presence of visual symptoms.

Will soon be published online in Cephalalgia!