Exploring the Interplay Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Pain Characteristics, and Disability in Migraine Patients

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, pain characteristics, and disability status in individuals with migraine.

Materials and Methods: The study included 50 individuals diagnosed with migraine. To assess the correlation between GIS symptoms, pain characteristics, and disability, the researchers employed three primary evaluation tools: Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scala (GSRS), Visual Analoque Scala (VAS), Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS).

Results: The statistical analysis of the data suggests that the overall severity of GI symptoms and specific symptoms like abdominal pain, reflux, diarrhea, indigestion, and constipation does not consistently increase with the intensity of migraine pain. The mean GSRS Total Score values did not significantly differ based on the frequency of attacks (p=0.649). MIDAS scores showed no significant correlation with GSRS-total (p=0.649) , GSRS constipation (p=0,973), GSRS-abdominal pain (p=0, 792), GSRS-reflux (p=0,254), GSRS-diarrhea (p=0.345), and GSRS-indigestion (p=0,261) scores.

Discussion and Conclusion: In the intricate tapestry of migraine and its associated symptoms, the relationship between the severity of migraine pain, frequency of attacks, migraine disability status and GI symptom severity might be more nuanced than initially thought. This discovery invites researchers to delve deeper into the multifaceted connections between the neurological and gastrointestinal systems and encourages a holistic approach to understanding and managing migraine and its associated symptoms.