Association between asthma and headache: Findings from the NHANES 2001–2004

Abstract

Abstract Introduction With the adjustment of sociodemographic factors, our study aimed to explore the association between asthma control and headache using a representative sample in the United States. Methods A total of participants aged >20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 2001–2004 were included. The presence of asthma and headache was determined by questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. Results Participants with asthma had higher odds of suffering headaches (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.30–2.02, p < 0.001). Those who had an asthma attack in the past year had higher odds of experiencing headaches than those who did not (odds ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–3.39, p = 0.022). No statistically significant association was found between participants who had emergency care visit for asthma in the past year and those who had not. Conclusion Patients with asthma attack in the past year were more likely to have a headache than those who without.

Keywords

• asthma
• asthma attack
• epidemiology
• headache
• NHANES