Migraine and balance impairment: Influence of subdiagnosis, otoneurological function, falls, and psychosocial factors

Objective To assess the balance sensory organization among patients with migraine, considering the influence of migraine subdiagnosis, otoneurological function, falls, and psychosocial factors. Background Migraine has been associated with vestibular symptoms and balance dysfunction; however, neither comprehensive balance assessment nor associated factors for greater impairment have been addressed thus far. Methods Patients from a tertiary headache clinic with a diagnosis of episodic migraine with aura (MWA), without aura (MWoA), and chronic migraine (CM) were included for this cross‐sectional study (30 patients per group). Thirty headache‐free controls (CG) were recruited. Participants underwent a comprehensive evaluation protocol, including the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and otoneurological examination. Questionnaires about fear of falls, dizziness disability, and kinesiophobia were administered. Results All migraine groups presented lower composite SOT scores than controls (CG: 82.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 79.5–85.3], MWoA: 76.5 [95% CI: 73.6–79.3], MWA: 66.5 [95% CI: 63.6–69.3], CM: 69.1 [95% CI: 66.3–72.0]; p