Self-Reported Comorbid Pains in Severe Headaches or Migraines in a US National Sample

Aims.- To compare prevalence of self-reported comorbid temporomandibular joint muscle disorder-type, neck, back, and joint pains in people with severe headache or migraine; and analyze these self-reported pains in the 2000-2005 US National Health Interview Survey by gender and age for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic blacks (African Americans). Methods.- National Health Interview Survey data included information on gender, age, race, ethnicity, health status, and common pain types: severe headache or migraine, temporomandibular joint muscle disorder-type, neck, and low back in the last 3 months, as well as prior-month joint pains. Analyses included survey prevalence estimation and survey logistic regression to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results.- The study included 189,967 adults: 48% males, 52% females; 73% white, 12% Hispanic, and 11% black. Of the entire sample, 29,712 (15%) reported severe headache or migraine, and 19,228 (64%) had severe headache or migraine with at least 1 comorbid pain. Two or more comorbid pains were reported in 10,200 (33%), with no gender difference, and with Hispanics (n=1847 or 32%) and blacks (n=1301 or 30%) less likely to report 2 or more comorbid pains than whites (n=6747 or 34%) (odds ratio=0.91, P=.032; OR=0.82, P < .001, respectively). This group also reported significantly lower ratings of self-rated health (P < .001). Differences in type of comorbid pain by age patterns were found. Conclusions.- Severe headache or migraine is often associated with other common pains, seldom existing alone. Two or more comorbid pains are common, similarly affecting gender and racial/ethnic groups. © 2012 American Headache Society