Co-morbidity between diabetes, migraine and depression

Abstract

Background: Young persons using oral antidiabetic agents have increased prevalence of medically treated migraine and depression. In the general population there is a well-known association between migraine and depression. Using medication as a proxy for disease, we investigated to which extent the previously reported increased prevalence of migraine in young persons using oral antidiabetic agents could be explained by co-morbid depression. Methods: Data on all individuals in Norway aged 20-39 years being prescribed anti-diabetic (n=5 055), migraine (n=26 058) and/or antidepressant agents (n=57 424) in 2006 was obtained from the Norwegian Prescription Database and analysed in a cross-sectional design using logistic regression. Results: Persons using oral antidiabetic agents but no antidepressant agents had an overall increased sex and age adjusted OR of using migraine agents compared to persons not using oral anti-diabetic agents (OR= 1.48; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.74). Persons using antidiabetic and antidepressant agents also had an increased OR of receiving migraine agents (OR=1.37; 1.03, 1.82). Estimating these risks for men and women separately, no major differences were found. Conclusion: The findings in the present study give no support for the hypothesis that the increased prevalence of migraine in young persons treated with oral antidiabetic agents partly could be explained by co-morbid depression.