Neuropediatrics 2006; 37 - PS4_3_2
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945799

SLEEP DISTURBANCE IN PEDIATRIC CHRONIC DAILY HEADACHE PATIENTS

L Lehwald 1, K Mack 1
  • 1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States

Objectives: Our aim is to investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders in the pediatric migraine population. Our hypothesis is the occurance of sleep disturbance in the chronic daily headache population is greater than in the episodic migraine patients, and may contribute to the transformation from episodic to chronic migraine.

Methods: A comprehensive chart review was performed on patients evaluated between August 2001 and July 2005 by a pediatric neurology headache specialist. Those diagnosed with a primary headache disorder of migraine with aura, migraine without aura and chronic daily headaches were included. A total of 200 patients from the episodic and chronic headache groups were selected based on sequential patient identification number.

Results: Each group of primary headache disorders was analyzed separately and then compared. There are several items which proved to be significant. Episodic migraine was more likely to be seen in a younger population than chronic daily headache. As the population aged the propensity for headache to occur is seen more in females. A higher proportion of chronic daily headache patients experiance sleep disturbance. The older the headache patient the more at risk they are for a chronic headache and comorbid sleep disturbance. A multiple logistic regression model analysis was performed to answer our hypothesis. There remained a very strong association between chronic headaches and sleep disturbance after adjusting for age and gender (OR=6.4, 95% Cl3.2 to 13.5). In this model, age and gender were no longer associated significantly with sleep disorders.

Conclusion: This present study demonstrates that patients with chronic headache will have an increased incidence of sleep disturbance. The propensity for the chronic headache child to have sleep disturbance may not only have pathophysiologic implications but most certainly needs to be regarded for effective therapeutic intervention in chronic daily headache patients.