Estimation of the Impact of Migraine on Self-rated Health: A Cross-sectional Study in Slovenia.

Aim: With the aim of providing a foundation for evidence-based public health actions, as well as the more individualised clinical treatment of migraine in Slovenia, the objective of our study was to assess the association between poor self-rated health (PSRH) and migraine, adjusted for selected comorbidity and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: The survey, conducted between August and December 2014, involved included 6,262 adults aged 15 years and over. Binary logistic regression was used in univariate as well as multivariate analysis. Three multivariate models were defined: MODEL 1 (migraine and comorbidities related to the physical dimension of health); MODEL 2 (comorbidities related to the mental dimension of health); MODEL 3 (demographic and socioeconomic factors).

Results: In univariate as well as all three multivariate models, the odds of PSRH were statistically significantly higher in migraine sufferers in comparison to non-sufferers (univariate model: ORmigraine=yes vs. migraine=no=2.22 (p<0.001); MODEL 1: ORmigraine=yes vs. migraine=no=2.27 (p<0.001); MODEL 2: ORmigraine=yes vs. migraine=no=1.51 (p=0.002); MODEL 3: ORmigraine=yes vs. migraine=no=1.56 (p=0.001)).

Conclusion: Migraine is an important PSRH-related factor. Comorbidities related to the physical dimension of health do not reduce the power of association between migraine and PRSH, while comorbidities related to the mental dimension reduce the power of association of migraine and other health conditions. The power of the association between migraine and PRSH is also independent of demographic/socioeconomic factors. We can also conclude that migraine seems to be a phenomenon that is in a bi-directional relationship with mental states (thus having an impact on PSRH) and is itself a stressor.