Adolescents with migraine headaches have shorter sleep duration and wake up earlier compared to those without migraine, a new study found. The study sample included 10,123 adolescents in the National Comorbidity Survey – Adolescent Supplement, a face-to-face survey of adolescents aged 13 to 18 years in the continental United States. The cross-sectional study examined the associations of sleep patterns, symptoms, and disorders with specific headache subtypes in this population. Researchers found:
- No significant difference in bedtime between youth with and without headache was reported.
- Those with any headache, particularly migraine, had significantly more sleep disturbances than those without headache.
- Youth with migraine and aura were more likely to report difficultly maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, daytime fatigue, and persistent insomnia symptoms vs those with migraine without aura.
Lateef T, Witonsky K, He J, Merikangas KR. Headaches and sleep duration problems in US adolescents: Findings from the National Comorbidity Survey – Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). [Published online ahead of print April 13, 2019]. Cephalalgia. doi:10.1177/0333102419835466.