Social Distancing in Chronic Migraine during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Results from a Multicenter Observational Study

Vincenzo Di Stefano; Raffaele Ornello; Andrea Gagliardo; Angelo Torrente; Elisa Illuminato; Valeria Caponnetto; Ilaria Frattale; Raffaella Golini; Chiara Di Felice; Fabiola Graziano; Maria Caccamo; Davide Ventimiglia; Salvatore Iacono; Gabriella Matarazzo; Francesco Armetta; Giuseppe Battaglia; Alberto Firenze; Simona Sacco; Filippo Brighina

doi:10.3390/nu13041361

Nutrients (Apr 2021)

Social Distancing in Chronic Migraine during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Results from a Multicenter Observational Study

Vincenzo Di Stefano,
Raffaele Ornello,
Andrea Gagliardo,
Angelo Torrente,
Elisa Illuminato,
Valeria Caponnetto,
Ilaria Frattale,
Raffaella Golini,
Chiara Di Felice,
Fabiola Graziano,
Maria Caccamo,
Davide Ventimiglia,
Salvatore Iacono,
Gabriella Matarazzo,
Francesco Armetta,
Giuseppe Battaglia,
Alberto Firenze,
Simona Sacco,
Filippo Brighina

Affiliations

Vincenzo Di Stefano: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Raffaele Ornello: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Andrea Gagliardo: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Angelo Torrente: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Elisa Illuminato: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Valeria Caponnetto: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Ilaria Frattale: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Raffaella Golini: Department of Internal Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Chiara Di Felice: Department of Internal Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Fabiola Graziano: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Maria Caccamo: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Davide Ventimiglia: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Salvatore Iacono: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Gabriella Matarazzo: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Francesco Armetta: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Giuseppe Battaglia: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Alberto Firenze: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Simona Sacco: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Filippo Brighina: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041361
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 4
p. 1361

Abstract

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Background: The restrictions taken to control the rapid spread of COVID-19 resulted in a sudden, unprecedented change in people’s lifestyle, leading to negative consequences on general health. This study aimed to estimate the impact of such changes on migraine severity during 2020 March–May lockdown. Methods: Patients affected by migraine with or without aura, diagnosed by expert physicians, completed a detailed interview comprehensive of: assessment of migraine characteristics; measure of physical activity (PA) levels; measure of the intake frequency of main Italian foods; the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire investigating sleep disorders. Results: We included 261 patients with a mean age of 44.5 ± 12.3 years. During social distancing, 72 patients (28%) reported a headache worsening, 86 (33%) an improvement, and 103 (39%) a stable headache frequency. A significant decrease of the PA levels during COVID-19 quarantine in the whole study sample was observed (median total metabolic equivalent task (METs) decreased from 1170 to 510; p p < 0.001), which were increased in patients who presented a stable or worsening headache. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that the restrictions taken during the pandemic have affected the practice of PA levels and sleep quality in migraine. Hence, PA and sleep quality should be assessed to find strategies for an improvement in quality of life.

Published in Nutrients

ISSN: 2072-6643 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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