Association between asthma and headache: Findings from the NHANES 2001–2004

INTRODUCTION: With the adjustment of sociodemographic factors, our study aimed to explore the association between asthma control and headache using a representative sample in the United States. METHODS: A total of participants aged >20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 2001–2004 were included. The presence of asthma and headache was determined by questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: Participants with asthma had higher odds of suffering headaches (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.30–2.02, p < 0.001). Those who had an asthma attack in the past year had higher odds of experiencing headaches than those who did not (odds ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–3.39, p = 0.022). No statistically significant association was found between participants who had emergency care visit for asthma in the past year and those who had not. CONCLUSION: Patients with asthma attack in the past year were more likely to have a headache than those who without.