# Cranial Autonomic Symptoms in Migraine Patient Presenting in the Department of Neurology of a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study found that over 60% of migraine patients experience cranial autonomic symptoms, such as tearing and red eyes, at a tertiary care center.

## Contribution

The study provides prevalence data on cranial autonomic symptoms in migraine patients in a specific clinical setting.

## Key findings

- 63.86% of migraine patients had at least one cranial autonomic symptom.
- Lacrimation and conjunctival injection were the most common symptoms.
- Bilateral cranial autonomic symptoms were present in 78.94% of affected patients.

## Abstract

Cranial autonomic symptoms are typically associated with trigeminal autonomic cephalagias and are also a part of TACs' diagnostic criteria. However, they have also been commonly reported in migraine patients. This study aimed to find the prevalence of crania! autonomic symptoms in migraine patients who presented to the Department of Neurology in a tertiary care center.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among migraine patients who visited the Department of Neurology of a tertiary care center from September 2023 to December 2023 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Neurologists used ICHD-3 beta criteria to diagnose migraine and the presence of cranial autonomic symptoms in patients with migraine through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.

Among 119 migraine patients, at least one cranial autonomic symptom was seen in 76 (63.86%) (55.23-72.51, at 95% Confidence Interval). Lacrimation 34 (44.73%) and conjunctival injection 27 (35.52%) were the two most commonly reported symptoms. Bilateral CAS was present in 60 (78.94%) patients.

The prevalence of at least one CAS in migraine patients was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings.