BACKGROUND: It is well documented that migraine and vertigo are closely related, and migraine attack is female-predominated as well. We try to investigate the prevalence of vertigo and other associated vestibular symptoms among female migraine patients in Taiwan. METHODS: This study was conducted on 449 nursing staff (all female) in our hospital on September 2001. A special ”migraine-and-vertigo” questionnaire was given and IHS criteria for common migraine is listed above; the ”tinnitus” and ”motion sickness” information are also collected. RESULTS: There are 180 patients (40.1%) that fulfill the criteria of migraine. Vestibular symptoms related to migraine attack occurred in 107 patients (59.4%); among them, episodic true vertigo was noted in 32 patients. The other 75 patients had experienced dizziness, unsteadiness, or floating sensation. Among the migraine patients, ninety-eight reported that they have intermittent tinnitus; in the other hand, motion-sickness was found in 62 patients. There were significantly more patients having both vestibular symptoms and migraine than vestibular symptoms and no migraine. (107 vs. 75; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our research highlights the high rate of migraine among our nursing staff and migraine-related vestibular symptoms in our hospital, indicating the diagnosis of ”migraine” may not be ignored when making differential diagnoses in any type of vertigo and dizziness.
BACKGROUND: It is well documented that migraine and vertigo are closely related, and migraine attack is female-predominated as well. We try to investigate the prevalence of vertigo and other associated vestibular symptoms among female migraine patients in Taiwan. METHODS: This study was conducted on 449 nursing staff (all female) in our hospital on September 2001. A special ”migraine-and-vertigo” questionnaire was given and IHS criteria for common migraine is listed above; the ”tinnitus” and ”motion sickness” information are also collected. RESULTS: There are 180 patients (40.1%) that fulfill the criteria of migraine. Vestibular symptoms related to migraine attack occurred in 107 patients (59.4%); among them, episodic true vertigo was noted in 32 patients. The other 75 patients had experienced dizziness, unsteadiness, or floating sensation. Among the migraine patients, ninety-eight reported that they have intermittent tinnitus; in the other hand, motion-sickness was found in 62 patients. There were significantly more patients having both vestibular symptoms and migraine than vestibular symptoms and no migraine. (107 vs. 75; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our research highlights the high rate of migraine among our nursing staff and migraine-related vestibular symptoms in our hospital, indicating the diagnosis of ”migraine” may not be ignored when making differential diagnoses in any type of vertigo and dizziness.