Volume 27, Issue 132, February 2023

Awareness and perceptions of migraine headache in Saudi Arabia

Muayad S. Albadrani¹, Basel A. Alqelaiti², Mohammad K. Ternati², Abdulwahab E. Almalki², Ghadi K. Alsaadi³, Shahad K. Alahmadi⁴, Maitha K. AlMaghlouth⁵, Khalid G. Mohamed⁶

¹Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
²Medical Student, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
³Medical Student, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
⁴Medical Intern, Alrayan Medical colleges, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
⁵Medical Intern, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
⁶College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
ORCID: 0000-0002-7486-1677

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A migraine is a moderate or severe headache that is commonly characterized by a recurrent episode of one-sided throbbing pain. It is the second-most impairing condition in the world; nevertheless, it remains underdiagnosed. Migraine may affect approximately half of the adult population in the world. Objective: This study aimed to determine the level of awareness and perception of migraine headaches in both Saudi and non-Saudi individuals living in Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods: This is cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with migraines or a family history of migraine headache in Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the targeted participants. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic data (i.e., age, gender, education, etc.), previous history of migraine headaches, treatment patterns and a questionnaire that assesses awareness about migraine headaches. Results: Overall, 1927 patients were involved (female 64.6% vs. male 35.4%). The most likely age range between was 18 to 25 years (39.8%). Only 6.9% of participants had a good degree of awareness, while 24.3% of respondents had moderate levels and 68.8% of respondents were defined as having poor awareness levels. High scores of awareness were found among young age groups, participants of high educational level, students, Southern residents, migraineurs and participants with a family history of migraine. Conclusion: The general population in Saudi Arabia lack enough awareness regarding migraine. However, better awareness can be seen more frequently among younger groups of age, educated females and people who had suffered from migraine headaches. Awareness campaigns are vital to increasing the population’s understanding of this neurological disease.

Keywords: Migraine headaches (MH), awareness, perception, General population

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e104ms2683

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v27i132/e104ms2683

Published: 20 February 2023