Frequency of Migraine in Patients Presenting with Headache at Neurology Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bahawalpur Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Migraine is a prevalent condition that results in significant morbidity and is associated with various systemic diseases, making it a critical public health concern. Early recognition of migraines can facilitate prompt medical treatment and the implementation of personalized therapy, helping to prevent it from becoming a debilitating condition for individuals. Objectives: To determine the frequency of migraine in patients presenting with headaches at the neurology department of a tertiary care hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from September 2024 to December 2024. Migraine was defined according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. Patients with an altered state of consciousness, a history of fits or seizures, and diagnosed psychiatric illnesses were excluded. After obtaining ethical approval and detailed informed consent, 296 patients presenting with headaches were enrolled using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Demographic information, including age and gender, was noted, and the patients were assessed for migraine, its triggering factors, and associated features. All data were recorded and entered into SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of the patients was 30.3 ± 13.7 years, with the majority (186, 62.8%) being female. Migraine was present in 108 (36.5%) patients. Stratification of data revealed a statistical association of migraine with female gender (P-value = 0.013) but not with age (P-value = 0.614). The most frequently reported triggering factors were stress (106, 98.1%) and sleep disturbances (102, 94.4%). Photophobia (94, 87.0%) and phonophobia (92, 85.2%) were the most commonly reported associated features. Conclusions: More than one-third of the patients presenting with headaches had migraines. Furthermore, migraine had a significant association with female gender but not with age. Nearly all the patients reported stress and sleep disturbances as triggers for migraine.