Primary headache disorders susceptibility is associated with fasting-related headache: evidence from a multinational study across 14 countries - Report - MDSpire

Primary headache disorders susceptibility is associated with fasting-related headache: evidence from a multinational study across 14 countries

  • By

  • M. Ceren Akgor

  • K. Saghır

  • A. İ. Can

  • F. G. Sahbaz

  • E. U. Özcelik

  • A. C. Atalar

  • N. Ergin

  • M. O. Orun

  • A. A. Madani

  • E. A. A. Ibrahim

  • M. Togha

  • S. Amirguliyev

  • Y. Alabwah

  • J. A. Hashel

  • I. M. Dardar

  • R. E. Sahli

  • S. B. Sassi

  • M. Nada

  • N. Shalaby

  • Y. Dehal

  • Y. Naji

  • M. Amine

  • K. Alfred

  • R. Karacı

  • E. Yanık

  • G. Gürsoy

  • H. T. Celik

  • S. Tasdelen

  • E. Ekizoğlu

  • E. K. Orhan

  • D. Agırcan

  • H. Genc

  • T. Gesoglu Demir

  • F. M. Domac

  • N. Köse

  • N. Tepe

  • S. Öztürk

  • E. K. Cengiz

  • K. Erdogan

  • İ. Yıldırım

  • B. R. Hasırcı Bayır

  • E. A. Demirel

  • R. Ghouri

  • B. Tasdelen

  • H. Bolay

  • A. Ozge

  • N. Kissani

  • June 25, 2026

  • 0 min

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Association Between Susceptibility to Primary Headache Disorders and Headaches During Fasting

Overview

This multinational study investigates the prevalence and predictors of headaches during Ramadan fasting, highlighting the role of pre-existing primary headache disorders, particularly migraine.

Background

Understanding fasting-related headaches is crucial as they affect a large population during Ramadan. This study emphasizes the importance of individual susceptibility, particularly in those with pre-existing primary headache disorders.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Headaches during Ramadan fasting predominantly occurred in the afternoon/pre-iftar period.
  • 54.6% of individuals reported improvement in headache after iftar.
  • Pre-existing primary headache disorders, especially migraine, were associated with headache occurrence during fasting.
  • Lifestyle-related factors were less significant predictors compared to individual headache history.
  • Fasting-related headache is classified as a secondary headache attributed to a disorder of homeostasis according to ICHD-3.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider a patient's history of primary headache disorders when assessing headache risk during fasting.

Conclusion

The study highlights the prevalence of fasting-related headaches and the role of individual headache history in their occurrence.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers | Primary Headache Disorders Susceptibility Is Associated with Fasting-Related Headache: Evidence from a Multinational Study Across 14 Countries
  2. 10.5 Headache attributed to fasting - ICHD-3
  3. BMC Psychiatry (Springer) — Prevalence of migraine among adults with mood disorders: a Saudi cross-sectional study
  4. Frontiers in Neurology — Clinical profile of headache attributed to anxiety and depressive disorders: an observational study
  5. Frontiers in Neurology — Atherogenic index of plasma and severe headaches or migraines risk in US adults: a population-based cross-sectional analysis from NHANES 1999–2004
  6. Pain Medicine — Evaluating the Role of Clinical, Psychophysical, and Psychological Factors in Distinguishing Tension-Type Headache Patients: A Study on Diagnostic Accuracy
  7. 10.5 Headache attributed to fasting - ICHD-3
  8. Impact of fasting during Ramadan on migraine in the Algerian population
  9. Ramadan fasting in smokers with primary headache disorders: Impact of nicotine dependence on headache frequency and severity - Magdy - 2025 - Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain - Wiley Online Library
  10. A randomized open-label study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of once-daily rimegepant 75 mg orally disintegrating tablet for the short-term preventive treatment of fasting-triggered headache in individuals with migraine
  11. International Headache Society Global Practice Recommendations for Preventive Pharmacological Treatment of Migraine - Francesca Puledda, Simona Sacco, Hans-Christoph Diener, Messoud Ashina, Haidar M. Al-Khazali, Sait Ashina, Rami Burstein, Eric Liebler, Andrea Cipriani, Min Kyung Chu, Alexandra Cocores, Freda Dodd-Glover, Esme Ekizoğlu, David Garcia-Azorin, Carl H. Göbel, Maria Teresa Goicochea, Amr Hassan, Koichi Hirata, Jan Hoffmann, Bronwyn Jenkins, Katharina Kamm, Mi Ji Lee, Yu-Hsiang Ling, Marco Lisicki, Daniele Martinelli, Teshamae S. Monteith, Raffaele Ornello, Aynur Özge, Mario Fernando Prieto Peres, Patricia Pozo-Rosich, Volodymyr Romanenko, Todd J. Schwedt, Marcio Nattan P Souza, Tsubasa Takizawa, Gisela M. Terwindt, Janu Thuraiaiyah, Mansoureh Togha, Nicolas Vandenbussche, Shuu-Jiun Wang, Shenguan Yu, Cristina Tassorelli, 2024
  12. Frontiers | Primary Headache Disorders Susceptibility Is Associated with Fasting-Related Headache: Evidence from a Multinational Study Across 14 Countries

Original Source(s)

Primary headache disorders susceptibility is associated with fasting-related headache: evidence from a multinational study across 14 countries

  • by M. Ceren Akgor, K. Saghır, A. İ. Can, F. G. Sahbaz, E. U. Özcelik, A. C. Atalar, N. Ergin, M. O. Orun, A. A. Madani, E. A. A. Ibrahim, M. Togha, S. Amirguliyev, Y. Alabwah, J. A. Hashel, I. M. Dardar, R. E. Sahli, S. B. Sassi, M. Nada, N. Shalaby, Y. Dehal, Y. Naji, M. Amine, K. Alfred, R. Karacı, E. Yanık, G. Gürsoy, H. T. Celik, S. Tasdelen, E. Ekizoğlu, E. K. Orhan, D. Agırcan, H. Genc, T. Gesoglu Demir, F. M. Domac, N. Köse, N. Tepe, S. Öztürk, E. K. Cengiz, K. Erdogan, İ. Yıldırım, B. R. Hasırcı Bayır, E. A. Demirel, R. Ghouri, B. Tasdelen, H. Bolay, A. Ozge, N. Kissani

  • June 25, 2026

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