Epidemiologic study to explore links between Ménière syndrome and migraine headache.

Many authors have noted an association between Ménière syndrome and migraine headache. In an attempt to explore a possible link between these two disorders, we performed an epidemiologic study. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) includes interviews with tens of thousands of patients annually to estimate the incidence of various diseases. In this study the data collected from the NHIS for the years 1986 to 1988 and 1994 were analyzed to determine the incidence of Ménière syndrome and migraine headache. A total of 423,400 individuals were interviewed over the combined 4 years included in this evaluation. The incidence of migraine headache was calculated at 3.8%, and the incidence of Ménière syndrome was estimated at 0.14%. The incidence of migraine headache in patients with Ménière syndrome was estimated at 4.5%. The incidence of migraine headache was not substantially elevated in patients with Ménière syndrome when compared to the general population.