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. 2018 Jul 2;18(1):95.
doi: 10.1186/s12883-018-1095-3.

Migraine-related disability and co-morbid depression among migraineurs in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Biniyam Alemayehu Ayele  1 , Yared Mamushet Yifru  2
Affiliations

Migraine-related disability and co-morbid depression among migraineurs in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Biniyam Alemayehu Ayele et al. BMC Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Migraine headache is a neurologic disorder which mainly affects younger and productive segment of population. Migraine not only causes pain; but also affects quality of life in terms of low productivity and economic loss. The main aim of this study was to examine migraine-related disability, co-morbid depression, and relationship between the two.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among migraineurs who visited two neurology referral clinics. The study was conducted between June 1st 2016 to December 30th2016. Migraine disability assessment score [MIDAS] and patient health questionnaire [PHQ-9] were used to assess disability and depression, respectively.

Results: A total of 70 patients participated in the study. Fifty-three (74.3%) of our study participants were women. Fifty one (72.9%) study participants were between age group 20-40 years. Migraine without aura was the most common subtype (70%); migraine with aura accounted for the other 28.6%. The mean (± SD) headache frequency and intensity was 23.4 ± 14.9 days and 7.4 ± 1.2 respectively. Major depressive disorder was common in this group (41.4%). The mean MIDAS and PHQ-9 scores were 46.7 ± 30 and 9.2 ± 4.4 respectively. More than two-thirds (74.3%) of our participants had severe disability. We found a statistically significant correlation between migraine-related disability and co morbid depression among our participants(r = 0.318, p-value = 0.007).

Conclusion: The positive correlation observed between migraine-related disability and co-morbid depression warrant routine screening and treatment of disability and depression in migraineurs; In addition, the observed high degree of disability among our participants may indicate sub optimal treatment of these patients.

Keywords: Co morbidity; Depression; Disability; MIDAS; Migraine; PHQ-9.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ information

  1. Biniyam Alemayehu Ayele, MD, Assistant professor of neurology

    1. Staff at department of neurology, College of Health Science, Addis Ababa Univeristy

    2. Teach clinical neurology to both undergraduate medical students and graduate students including neurology residents.

    3. Work as consultant neurologist at Tikur Anbessa Specialized University Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital.

    4. Involved in different research projects in field of neuroscience in Ethiopia.

    5. Have special interest in Headache disorders, Clinical neurophysiology and movement disorders.

    6. Member of International Headache society(IHS)

    7. Email: biniyam.alemayehu.aau.edu.et/biniyam.a7@gmail.com

  2. Yared Mamushet Yifru, MD, MSc, Headache specialist

    1. Assistant professor of Neurology at department of neurology, College of Health Science Addis Ababa Univeristy, Ethiopia.

    2. Teach clinical neurology to both undergraduate medical students and graduate students including neurology residents.

    3. Work as consultant neurologist at Tikur Anbessa Specialized University Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital.

    4. Involved in different research projects in field of neuroscience in Ethiopia.

    5. Have special interest in Headache disorders, strokes and movement disorders.

    6. Email: yared_mty@yahoo.com

Ethics approval and consent to participate

  1. Ethical approval letter was obtained from Institutional Review Board of the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, with protocol number: 017/16/Neuro on meeting No: 005/16, on May25, 2016.

  2. All participants/their guardians gave informed written consent before taking part in the study.

  3. The research was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

  4. Written informed consent was obtained from patients and for those under the age of 18 years from their legal guardians before proceeding to interview.

Consent for publication

  1. All authors agreed on the decision to publish this manuscript.

  2. Participants consent for publication: Not applicable.

Competing interests

  1. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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