Assessment of Headache in Asthma Patients

Background and Objective: Headache is a common health problem, which may present with neurological diseases and other chronic diseases, and has an adverse effect on the emotional status. We think that headache is a common disease in asthmatic patients. This study aims to evaluate the presence of headache and risk factors in patients with asthma.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with asthma and 58 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The presence of headache was evaluated according to the revised criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICDH-II). Asthma control test (ACT) was performed to determine asthma control status. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were performed in all participants. Demographic features, used medications, and presence of headaches were recorded.

Results: Fifty-eight patients with asthma (62.4%) had headaches, whereas only 19 control subjects (32.8%) had headaches. Thirty-two patients (34.4%) had tension-type headache, 19 patients (20.3%) had migraine-type headache, and 7 patients (7.5%) had other types of headaches. The frequency of headaches was significantly higher in patients with asthma, compared to healthy control subjects (p=0.001). There was a significant correlation between migraine-type headache and inhaled steroid use, and presence of allergies.

Conclusion: Migraine-type and tension-type headaches are more common in patients with asthma, compared to the overall population. The frequency of migraine-type headache is higher in patients with asthma who have allergies and low respiratory function test scores.