Migraines linked to poor sleep for premenopausal and perimenopausal women
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Premenopausal and perimenopausal women with a history of migraines were more likely to experience poor sleep vs. those who did not have a history of migraines, according to a cross-sectional study presented at the NAMS Annual Meeting.
However, the relationship between migraine history and sleep quality during perimenopause did not remain significant when multiple variables were analyzed.
“This may be because there are many other things — potentially with stronger links — that affect sleep quality in perimenopause, such as mood disturbances (anxiety and depression) and hot flashes and night sweats,” Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, FACP, NCMP, IF, medical director of NAMS and a member of Healio Women’s Health & OB/GYN Peer Perspective Board, told Healio.
Faubion and colleagues analyzed data from the Data Registry on Experiences of Aging, Menopause and Sexuality (DREAMS). For DREAMS, 2,067 premenopausal and perimenopausal women who attended women’s health clinics at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida between May 2015 and May 2021 completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and reported their history of migraine.
In univariate analyses, having a history of migraines predicted poor sleep quality in both premenopausal women (OR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.14-2.12) and perimenopausal women (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.17-2.2). In analyses adjusted for BMI, anxiety, depression and hot flash severity, the association remained significant only for premenopausal women (adjusted OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.02).
Of note, sleep duration was not associated with migraine history for premenopausal or perimenopausal women.
“For women in perimenopause who have migraines and poor sleep, the best options for management will be to focus on these other factors (mood disturbances, hot flashes and night sweats) that can affect sleep rather than just migraine,” Faubion said. “Understanding whether women have current and ongoing problems with migraine — rather than just a history of migraine — as well as whether they have migraine with aura vs. without aura would help clarify this association, particularly in premenopausal women.”