Internet use May be associated with the severity of headache in migraine patients: results from a Hungarian tertiary headache center.

Abstract

Background: Migraine as a prevalent primary headache disorder affects mainly the young population. Migraines worsen the quality of life and are responsible for the main cause of disability worldwide. Apart from the well-known lifestyle factors, the spread of digitalization seems to influence the frequency as well as the severity of migraine attacks, however clinical studies are still lacking. Here we present a prospective single-center cross-sectional study focusing on the possible negative effects of being online and problematic internet use on the severity of headache during migraine attacks taking many covariates into account.

Methods: Migraine patients were recruited from the Headache Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. Socio-demographic data, medical history of migraine, severity of migraine attacks and details of online activities were recorded as well as online questionnaires focusing on internet addiction.

Results: A total of 192 patients (n = 166 female; n = 26 male) completed the online questionnaire package. After the setup of a logistic regression among socio-demographic data age > 45 years (odds ratio, OR = 1.101), being married (OR = 1.584), number of children > 2 (OR = 1.227), secondary employment (OR = 2.349), while related to being online only nighttime internet use (OR = 1.330) was significantly associated with the severity of migraine attacks.

Conclusion: This study is among the first clinical studies focusing on the unfavorable effects of online activities on the severity of headache in migraine patients. Clinicians should be aware the negative effect of being online as a potential non-pharmacological aspect of migraine treatment.