Prevalence and Characteristics of Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine and Probable Migraine: A Population-Based Study

Background: Cutaneous allodynia (CA) is a common feature of migraine and a clinical marker of central sensitization. Probable migraine (PM) is a subtype of migraine that fulfils all but one criterion of migraine. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of CA and those of migraine in PM. Methods: We used the data of the Korean Sleep-Headache study, which was a nation-wide population-based study on headache and sleep. CA was evaluated using the Allodynia Symptom Checklist-12 (ASC-12) questionnaire with ASC-12 score ≥ 3 classified as CA. Results: Of 2501 participants, the prevalence of migraine and PM were 5.0% and 11.6%, respectively. The prevalence of CA did not significantly differ between migraine and PM (16.0% vs. 14.5%, respectively, p = 0.701). Individuals with PM with CA reported a higher monthly frequency of headache (3.3 ± 4.3 vs. 1.8 ± 3.6, respectively, p = 0.044), more severe intensity of headache (Visuals Analogue Scale, median and interquartile range, 6.0 [4.0–7.0] vs. 5.0 [3.0–6.0], respectively, p = 0.002), and higher impact of headache (Headache Impact Test-6, 56.3 ± 7.2 vs. 48.3 ± 8.0, respectively, p < 0.001) and disability (Migraine Disability Assessment, 1.00 [0.00–10.00] vs. 0.00 [0.00–1.00], respectively, p < 0.001) than individuals with PM without CA. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the frequency and intensity of headache, anxiety, and depression were significant factors of CA in individuals with PM. Conclusions: Approximately one-sixth of individuals with migraine and PM experienced CA in a representative sample of Korea. Anxiety, depression, and high frequency of headaches were significant factors of CA in individuals with PM.