The Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Migraines: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Obes Surg

Date 2019 Dec 2

PMID 31786719

Citations 2

Authors

Jerry T Dang

Jeremy K H Lee

Janice Y Kung

Noah J Switzer

Shahzeer Karmali

Daniel W Birch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent research has demonstrated an association between obesity and migraine headaches. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that migraine improvement can occur with significant weight loss. Given that bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, there is potential for bariatric surgery to improve migraine symptoms. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of bariatric surgery on migraine headaches.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search from database inception to December 2018 was conducted for studies examining the effect of bariatric surgery on migraines. Patients of all ages who had a history of migraines undergoing primary bariatric surgery were included. Primary outcomes included migraine frequency, severity, and disability.

Results: Four studies were included (n = 159). Frequency of migraines was markedly reduced after bariatric surgery, with fewer symptomatic days suffered by patients per month post-operatively (mean difference [MD] - 5.56 days, 95%CI 0.14 to 10.99, p = 0.04). The degree of migraine headache-related disability as measured by the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) was also significantly lower following bariatric surgery (MD - 14.72, 95%CI 10.08 to 19.36, p < 0.001). The severity of migraine headache pain before and after surgery was reduced with borderline statistical significance (MD - 3.53, 95%CI - 0.12 to 7.17, p = 0.06).

Conclusion: Migraine severity, frequency, and headache-related disability were improved 6 months after bariatric surgery. However, this systematic review was limited by a low number of studies and larger high-quality, randomized trials are needed to determine the effect of bariatric surgery on migraine headaches.

Citing Articles

[Complementary and supplementary procedures in the treatment of headache].

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PMID: 37432483 DOI: 10.1007/s00482-023-00738-1.

Bariatric Surgery in Migraine patients: CGRP Level and Weight Loss.

Etefagh H, Shahmiri S, Melali H, Sayadi M, Ansari H, Shahzamani A Obes Surg. 2022; 32(11):3635-3640.

PMID: 35922609 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-022-06218-2.

Metabolic Aspects of Migraine: Association With Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus.

Rivera-Mancilla E, Al-Hassany L, Villalon C, MaassenVanDenBrink A Front Neurol. 2021; 12:686398.

PMID: 34177788 PMC: 8219973. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.686398.

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