Migraine associated with altitude : results from a population-based study in Nepal

Linde, M.St. Olav’s University Hospital,Norwegian University of Science and Technology (författare)

Background and purpose: A 1988 pilot study in Peru suggested an association between migraine and chronic exposure to high altitude. This study provides epidemiological evidence corroborating this. Methods: In a cross-sectional nationwide population-based study, a representative sample of Nepali-speaking adults were recruited through stratified multistage cluster sampling. They were visited at home by trained interviewers using a culturally adapted questionnaire. The altitude of dwelling of each participant was recorded. Results: Of 2100 participants, over half [1100 (52.4%)] were resident above 1000 m and almost one quarter [470 (22.4%)] at ≥2000 m. Age- and gender-standardized migraine prevalence increased from 27.9% to 45.5% with altitude between 0 and 2499 m and thereafter decreased to 37.9% at ≥2500 m. The likelihood of having migraine was greater (odds ratio, 1.5–2.2; P ≤ 0.007) at all higher altitudes compared with <500 m. In addition, all symptom indices increased with altitude across the range <500 m to 2000–2499 m, i.e. median attack frequency from 1.3 to 3.0 days/month (P < 0.001), median duration from 9 to 24 h (P < 0.001) and pain intensity [the proportion reporting ‘bad pain’ (highest intensity)] from 35.5% to 56.9% (P = 0.011). Each of these showed a downward trend above 2500 m. Conclusions: Dwelling at high altitudes increases not only migraine prevalence but also the severity of its symptoms.

Edvinsson, L.Lund University,Lunds universitet,Medicin/akutsjukvård, Lund,Sektion II,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Lund,Medicinska fakulteten,Experimentell kärlforskning,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Medicine, Lund,Section II,Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund,Faculty of Medicine,Experimental Vascular Research,Lund University Research Groups(Swepub:lu)med-led (författare)
Manandhar, K.Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Kathmandu University Hospital (författare)
Risal, A.Norwegian University of Science and Technology,Kathmandu University Hospital (författare)
Steiner, Timothy J.Imperial College London,Norwegian University of Science and Technology (författare)
St. Olav’s University HospitalNorwegian University of Science and Technology (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Linde, M.; Edvinsson, L.; Manandhar, K.; Risal, A.; Steiner, Timothy ...

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