Preprint / Version 1

Clinical Profile of Migraine in a Rural Population Presenting to Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Authors

  • Sulena Department of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  • Monika Singla Department of Neurology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  • Jaisal Brar Student, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  • Richa Kale School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne Victoria, Australia
  • Sandesh Kale Data and Insights Analyst, Illion Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne Victoria, Australia

Keywords:

Accompanying features, comorbidities, disability, migraine

Abstract

Background and Objective: Migraine is one of the most common types of headache leading to significant disability; still people do not seek early help in developing countries. Therefore, we planned to conduct a study to assess the clinical profile of migraine, its triggers, comorbidities, and related disability in rural India. Design: An observational study in which 1,245 men and women suffering from migraine were recruited at a tertiary care hospital and were asked to complete a questionnaire related to migraine, its triggers, comorbidities, and disability. Results: Out of 1245 patients, females constituted 75% (937) of the patient pool and rest 25% were males (308). Fatigability (52.7%), nausea/vomiting (42.7%), phonophobia (33.57%), numbness (28.2%), and vertiginous sensation (20.8%) were accompanying features. Stress was the most common trigger impacting 44.9% of the patient population, followed by noise in 44.3% of cases. Exertion and sleep disturbance acted as triggers in 36.1%, smells in 20.5%, hormonal factors in 11.5%, and visual stimuli in 5.1% of patients. Anxiety was identified as the most common comorbidity affecting 542 patients (43.5%), followed by depression in 25.7%of patients. Around 103 patients (8.2%) had other psychiatric illnesses such as panic disorder and bipolar mood disorder. Conclusion: The migraine-related disability is high; therefore we conducted a study to understand its triggers and clinical profile. This was the first observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital on migraine in north India catering to a sizeable rural population however, larger population studies are required to understand migraine more exhaustively. Keywords: Accompanying features, comorbidities, disability, migraine

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