The study included 164 subjects (33 men and 131 women), 83 patients (11 men and 72 women) in the MOH and 81 subjects (22 men and 59 women) in the CG. The average age of the study subjects was 40.2 ± 11.9 years (min 18, max 71 years). The detailed data are described in our previous published paper (Ljubisavljevic et al., 2020). All the SF-36 scores (PCS, MCS, and TS) were significantly lower in the MOH than in the CG (p < 0.001). Strong correlations were observed between parameters of quality of life and psychological distress parameters as well as ruminative through style (Ljubisavljevic et al, 2020) (p < 0.05) (Table 1).
The PCS was impaired in the MOH group in relation to CG, both in persons younger and in persons older than 40 years (p < 0.001); the PCS was impaired in women in the MOH group compared to women in the CG (p < 0.001); the PCS was impaired in persons with MOH (regardless of place of residence) compared to healthy persons with the same place of residence (p < 0.001); persons with secondary and higher education who suffer from MOH have impaired PCS compared to persons with the same education who did not suffer from MOH (p < 0.001); marital and unmarried people suffering from MOH have impaired PCS compared to persons of the same marital status who did not suffer from MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to work status (works/does not work) persons with MOH have impaired PCS compared to persons of the same work status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to smoking status (smoker/nonsmoker) persons with MOH have impaired PCS compared to persons with the same smoking status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); impairment of the PCS was observed in persons suffering from MOH and consuming alcohol compared to persons without MOH of the same habits (p < 0.001); in relation to the use of caffeinated beverages, impaired PCS was observed in persons with MOH, both in those who consume and in those who do not consume caffeinated beverages in relation to persons in CG of the same habits (p < 0.001); in relation to physical activity, impaired PCS was observed in persons with MOH in relation to persons in CG of the same physical activity (p < 0.001). In the CG, a statistically significant impairment in the PCS was observed in patients older than 40 years (p = 0.004) and in patients with a lower level of education (p = 0.004). In the MOH group, a statistically significant impairment in the PCS was observed in women (p = 0.002) (Table 2).
The MCS in relation to gender, age and other sociodemographic variables, the following statistically significant differences were observed: the MCS was impaired in the MOH group in relation to CG, both in persons younger and in persons older than 40 years (p < 0.001); the MCS was impaired in both women and men in the MOH group compared to women and men in the CG (p < 0.001); the MCS is impaired in persons with MOH (regardless of place of residence) compared to healthy persons with the same place of residence (p < 0.001, p = 0.001); persons with secondary and higher education who suffer from MOH have impaired MCS compared to persons with the same education who did not suffer from MOH (p < 0.001); marital and unmarried people with MOH have a MCS disorder compared to people of the same marital status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to work status (works/does not work) persons with MOH have impaired MCS compared to persons of the same work status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to smoking status (smoker/nonsmoker) persons with MOH have impaired MCS compared to persons of the same smoking status who did not suffer from MOH (p < 0.001); impaired MCS was observed in people suffering from MOH who consume and in those who do not consume alcohol compared to people without MOH of the same status (p = 0.008, p < 0.001); in relation to the use of caffeinated beverages, impaired MCS was observed in persons with MOH who consume and do not consume caffeinated beverages in relation to persons in CG of the same habits (p < 0.001, p = 0.001); in relation to physical activity, impaired MCS was observed in persons with MOH in relation to persons in CG of the same physical activity (p < 0.001). In the CG, a statistically significant impairment in the MCS was observed in individuals older than 40 years (p = 0.010) and in physically less active people (p = 0.044) (Table 3).
The TS in relation to gender, age and other sociodemographic variables showed the following statistically significant differences: the TS was impaired in the MOH group in relation to CG, both in same place of residence (p < 0.001); persons with secondary and higher education who suffer from MOH have impaired TS compared to persons with the same education who did not suffer from MOH (p persons younger and in persons older than 40 years (p < 0.001); TS was impaired in both women and men in the MOH group compared to women and men in the CG (p < 0.001, p = 0.001); the TS was impaired in persons with MOH (regardless of place of residence) compared to healthy persons with the < 0.001); marital and unmarried people with MOH have impaired TS compared to people of the same marital status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to the work status (works/does not work) persons with MOH have impaired TS compared to persons of the same work status who did not have MOH (p < 0.001); in relation to smoking status (smoker/nonsmoker), persons with MOH have impaired TS compared to persons of the same smoking status who did not suffer from MOH (p < 0.001); impairment of the TS was observed in persons suffering from MOH who do not consume alcohol compared to persons without MOH of the same status (p < 0.001); in relation to the use of caffeinated beverages, impairment of the TS was observed in persons with MOH who consume and do not consume caffeinated beverages in relation to persons in CG of the same habits (p < 0.001); in relation to physical activity, impairment of the TS was observed in persons with MOH in relation to persons in CG of the same physical activity (p < 0.001). In the CG, a statistically significant impairment in TS was observed in individuals older than 40 years (p = 0.002) and in individuals with a lower level of education (p = 0.015). In the MOH group, impaired TS was observed in women (p = 0.023) (Table 4).
In relation to the clinical characteristics of MOH and previous headaches, a statistically significant impairment in the PCS was observed in persons with MOH who used antidepressant therapy for preventive purposes compared to persons who used another type of preventive therapy (p = 0.029). No other statistically significant differences in PCS, MCS, or TS impairment were observed compared to the tested variables (p > 0.05) (data not shown).
By including all variables with a significance level of p < 0.1 from the univariate model in the analysis of the multivariate model, the following risk factors for health-related quality of life were identified for MOH patients: for PCS, female sex (B = -15.47, 95% CI -26.79—4.14, p = 0.008) and depression (B = -0.70, 95% CI -1.32—0.08, p = 0.027); for MCS, depression (B = -0.71, 95% CI -1.14-0.29, p = 0.001); and for TS, depression (B = -0.69, 95% CI -1.16—0.22, p = 0.005) (Table 5). Additionally, by including all variables with a significance level of p < 0.1 from the univariate model in the analysis of the multivariate model, the following risk factors for health-related quality of life were identified for CG: for PCS, depression (B = -0.70, 95% CI -1.31—0.27, p = 0.002); for MCS, smoking (B = -10.25, 95% CI -19.13—1.38, p = 0.024), smoking length (B = -0.52, 95% CI -0.92—0.13, p = 0.009) and depression (B = -0.96, 95% CI -1.40—0.52, p < 0.001); for TS, age (B = -0.16, 95% CI -0.32—0.01, p = 0.046); and depression (B = -0.90, 95% CI -1.23—0.54, p < 0.001) (Table 5).