Do women with migraine have higher prevalence of temporomandibular disorders?

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) in women with episodic and chronic migraine (M and CM), as well as in asymptomatic women.

METHOD

Sample consisted of 61 women, being 38 with M and 23 with CM, identified from a headache outpatient center; we also investigated 30 women without headaches for at least 3 months (women without headache group - WHG). Assessment of TMD was conducted by a physical therapist who was blind to the headache status.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TMD, assessed through the RDC, was 33.3% in the WHG, 86.8% in the M group and 91.3% of the CM group. Differences were significant when comparing M and CM groups with WHG (p<0.001), but not when comparing M and CM (p>0.05) as well as higher risk for TMD [odds ratio (OR)=3.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73-5.71 and OR=3.97, 95%CI 1.76-8.94].

CONCLUSION

Women with migraine are more likely to have muscular and articular TMD, suggesting that both disorders might be clinically associated, which demonstrate the importance of physical therapy assessment in the multidisciplinary team.