Primary headache subtypes and thyroid dysfunction: Is there any association?

Abstract: Background: Primary headaches, and particularly migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) as well as hypothyroidism are common medical conditions. To date, numerous studies have suggested a possible bidirectional relationship between migraine and hypothyroidism, although certain studies had contradictory results. Objective: To investigate whether there is any association between primary headache subtypes and thyroid disorders. Methods: A retrospective study of consecutive patients aged ≥18 years referred to the Headache Outpatient Clinic of Aeginition Hospital and diagnosed with primary headache and any thyroid disorder. Results: Out of 427 patients (males/females=76/351), 253 (59.3%) were diagnosed with migraine without aura, 53 (12.4%) with TTH, 49 (11.5%) with migraine with aura, 29 (6.8%) with medication-overuse headache, 23 (5.4%) with mixed-type headache (migraine with/without aura and TTH), nine (2.1%) with cluster headache, and 11 (2.6%) with other types of primary headaches. The prevalence of any type of thyroid disorder was 20.8% (89/427 patients). In the total sample, 27 patients (6.3%) reported hypothyroidism, 18 (4.2%) unspecified thyroidopathy, 14 (3.3%) thyroid nodules, 12 (2.8%) Hashimoto thyroiditis, 12 (2.8%) thyroidectomy, three (0.7%) thyroid goiter, and three (0.7%) hyperthyroidism. Further statistical analysis between categorical variables did not reveal any significant association between headache subtypes and thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions: No specific association was found between primary headache subtypes and specific thyroid disorder. However, a high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in general and specifically hypothyroidism was demonstrated among patients with primary headaches, which lays the foundation for further clarification in prospective longitudinal studies.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Subtipos de cefaleia primária e disfunção tireoidiana: existe alguma associação?
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Primary headache subtypes and thyroid dysfunction: Is there any association? ; volume:78 ; number:11 ; year:2020 ; pages:695-699 ; Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria ; 78, Heft 11 (2020), 695-699

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: SPANOU, Ioanna ; CHRISTIDI, Foteini ; LIAKAKIS, Georgios ; RIZONAKI, Konstantina ; BOUGEA, Anastasia ; ANAGNOSTOU, Evangelos ; KARARIZOU, Evangelia

Further information

• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20200070
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023072012093820135626
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:58 AM CEST