AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightRoutine assessment of analgesic use behaviors and patient education regarding appropriate analgesic use may facilitate the early identification and management of patients at risk for MOH.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate analgesic use patterns, factors associated with medication overuse headache (MOH), and patients' awareness regarding analgesic overuse in patients with migraine. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 116 patients with migraine followed in a tertiary neurology outpatient clinic. Demographic and clinical characteristics, analgesic use patterns, prophylactic treatment use, and MOH awareness were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Headache-related disability was assessed using the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). MOH was diagnosed according to ICHD-3 criteria. Results: The prevalence of MOH was 33.6% among patients with migraine and was significantly higher in patients with chronic migraine (CM) compared with those with episodic migraine (EM) (94.7% vs. 21.6%, p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, smoking (OR: 5.298, 95% CI: 2.127-13.899; p<0.001) and the number of emergency department visits (OR: 1.622, 95% CI: 1.287-2.150; p<0.001) were independently associated with the presence of MOH. Only 41.4% of patients reported being aware of MOH, whereas most patients (63.8%) reported making their own decisions regarding analgesic use. Conclusion: MOH is a common condition associated with substantial disease burden, particularly among patients with CM. Routine assessment of analgesic use behaviors and patient education regarding appropriate analgesic use may facilitate the early identification and management of patients at risk for MOH.