UC Irvine

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the trend of migraine prevalence in the United States (US) adult population in 2010-2015 and possible causes of the racial/ethnic differences.

Methods: Data from the 2010-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed. The yearly trend of age and sex adjusted migraine prevalence was estimated by a linear regression. Chi-squared tests were performed to examine the racial/ethnic differences in migraine prevalence. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to evaluate the associations between candidate variables and racial/ethnic migraine prevalence, as well as to explore the interactions between races/ethnicities and migraine contributing factors.

Results: In 2015, migraine prevalences in non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic Whites, Blacks, Asians, bi-/multi-racial people, and American Indians and Alaska Natives were 15.38%, 14.36%, 15.67%, 10.68%, 20.91%, and 17.36%, respectively. The overall prevalence dropped from 16.28% to 14.95% during 2010-2015, but no significance was detected. Migraine prevalence was significantly lower in Asians and higher in bi-/multi-racial people. No significant difference was seen among other populations. Strong correlations with racial/ethnic migraine prevalence were found in age, sex, poverty status, problems in paying medical bills, depression/anxiety problems, hypertension, current smoking, pain, and sleep disturbances. Higher education, poverty, depression/anxiety problems, hypertension, smoking, and pain had interactions with certain racial/ethnic subgroups.

Conclusion: Migraine prevalence in the US adults was relatively stable during 2010-2015. A lower proportion of contributing factors in Asians and a higher proportion in bi-/multi-racial people may partly explain the racial differences. Interactions between contributing factors and races/ethnicities indicate race/ethnicity-specific associations with migraines.