Affiliations: Department of Neuroscience, Center for Cell and Gene
Therapy, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Pennington, NJ,
USA | Department of Molecular Biology, Yale University, New
Haven, CT, USA | Department of Neurology, Rowan University Hospital,
New Jersey, Pennington, NJ, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Mitra S. Assadi, Associate Professor of
Neurology and Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Director, Comprehensive Headache Center,
Director, Pediatric Neurology, Capital Health, Pennington, NJ 08534, USA. Tel.:
+1 609 537 7300; Fax: +1 609 537 7301; E-mail: massadi@capitalhealth.org
Abstract: The phenotypic severity of migraine has rarely been the subject of
genetic epidemiological studies. In this study, we conducted a cross sectional
survey of high school students using a validated questionnaire which covered
the diagnostic features of migraine as specified by the International
Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition. The phenotypic severity
was assessed via Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). We documented the family
history of recurrent headaches in the parents and correlated it with a
diagnosis of migraine in the offspring. The participants included 272 students
with mean age of 16.45 yr. The diagnosis of migraine in the participants was
ascertained according to the International Classification of Headache
Disorders, second edition criteria. When one of the parents suffered with
recurrent headaches, the odds ratio for developing migraine in the subjects was
only modestly increased (1.68). When both parents were affected, the odds ratio
for migraine increased to 2.11. Logistic regression analysis with chi-square
test of homogeneity of odds indicated a significant association with the
students' risk of developing migraine and history of recurrent headaches in
both parents (P < 0.02). Moreover, having two affected parents was
associated with a lower age of onset (Chi-square, P < 0.04) and higher HIT-6
scores (t-test, P < 0.02) in the subjects. In conclusion, having two parents
with recurrent headaches doubled the odds ratio for developing migraine in the
offspring and was also associated with increased headache disability as
measured by HIT-6 and a younger age of onset of migraines. We propose that
assessing the clinical severity may represent a novel approach in studying
genetic epidemiology of migraine.
