Migraine Headache in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

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  • Ahmed Talaia Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7796-6004
      Competing Interests

      none

    • Khaled Kettaneh Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Kerak, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6745-9670
        Competing Interests

        N/A

      • Ayoub Ait lahcen Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0440-6046
          Competing Interests

          N/A

        • Abdeljalil El Hilali Faculty of medicine and pharmacy of Agadir, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco.
            Competing Interests

            N/A

          • Mohamed Magdi China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
              Competing Interests

              N/A

            • Marwa Amayem Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3672-2982
                Competing Interests

                N/A

              • Mohamed Wagdy Faculty of Medicine, Modern university for technology and information, Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0891-3561 (unauthenticated)
                  Competing Interests

                  N/A

                • Shrouk Mahmoud Elghazaly Egypt health insurance units, Asyut, Egypt.
                    Competing Interests

                    N/A

                  DOI:

                  https://doi.org/10.71079/ASIDE.IM.081225133

                  Abstract

                  Background: Migraine is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of unilateral headache. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa that is triggered by exposure to allergens. Migraine and AR may share underlying immunological mechanisms, including histamine release and mast cell activation. Despite the growing interest in the immunological interplay between allergic conditions and neurological symptoms, the specific relationship between AR and migraine remains underexplored.

                  Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and pooled risk ratio (RR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment. Heterogeneity assessment and subgroup analysis were also performed.

                  Results: Eleven studies involving 4,704,591 participants were included. The pooled OR for migraine in individuals with AR was 2.94 (95% CI: 2.02–4.29; p < 0.0001; I² = 95.62%). The pooled RR from two cohort studies was 2.27 (95% CI: 1.10–4.65; p = 0.026; I² = 99.72%). Subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in the pooled OR regarding the source of individuals with AR and the method of AR assessment, with a higher pooled OR in hospital patients (OR = 7.32) and when using skin tests (OR =6.93), respectively.

                  Conclusion: Migraine headaches are significantly associated with AR, particularly in hospital settings and when objectivemethodsareusedforARdiagnosis.Thefindingsofthisstudyshouldbeinterpreted cautiously owing to the high heterogeneity.

                  Keywords:

                  Migraine, Allergic Rhinitis, Meta-Analysis, Headache

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                  Data Availability Statement

                  All studies used in the research are available in various databases.

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                  Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed Talaia, Khaled Kettaneh, Ayoub Ait lahcen, Abdeljalil El Hilali, Mohamed Magdi, Marwa Amayem, Mohamed Wagdy, Shrouk Mahmoud Elghazaly

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                  Published

                  2025-08-12

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                  Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Volume 2, Issue 1 (2026)

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                  How to Cite

                  1.
                  Talaia A, Kettaneh K, lahcen AA, et al. Migraine Headache in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. ASIDE Int Med. 2025;2(1):33-40. doi:10.71079/ASIDE.IM.081225133

                  Article history

                  Received
                  12 Jun 2025
                  Received in revised form
                  12 Jul 2025
                  Accepted
                  26 Jul 2025
                  Published
                  12 Aug 2025

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