Characterizing idiopathic intracranial hypertension socioeconomic disparities and clinical risk factors: A retrospective case-control study
Frances Morden, Charissa H. Tan, Enrique Carrazana, Jason Viereck, Kore Liow, Arash Ghaffari‐Rafi
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Against the backdrop of the diverse minority-majority state of Hawaii, this study seeks to better characterize associations between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with sociodemographic variables and medical comorbidities. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted by utilizing 54 IIH patients and 216 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls, 216 unmatched controls, and 63 age-, sex-, and race-matched migraine patients. RESULTS: ; OR: 6.10), recent weight gain (OR: 11.66), current smoker (OR: 2.48), hypertensive (OR: 3.08), and peripheral vascular disease (OR: 16.42). Odds of IIH were reduced (p < 0.05) for patients who were Asian (OR: 0.27) or students (OR: 0.30;). Unique from Whites, NHPI IIH patients exhibited greater odds (p < 0.05) for being from lower socioeconomic status and currently smoking, as well as potential association with seizures (p = 0.08). Compared to migraines, IIH headaches were at increased odds of occurring (p < 0.05) occipitally, for greater than 15 days per month, aggravated by postural changes, and comorbid with dizziness and tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: These results not only better characterize IIH, but also highlight socioeconomic and racial disparities in diagnosis.