Migraine, its frequency, triggering factors and impact on daily life of medical students-a single center study in a private medical institution of Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: Determine the frequency of migraine, its triggering factors and assessment of the impact on daily life among medical students ofa private medical college in Lahore, Pakistan.

Settings: First to final year MBBS students of Fatima Memorial College of Medicine, Lahore

Period: February to April, 2019.

Material & Methods: In a total of 708 students, 118 students were identified, as having experienced headache for the past one year. They were categorized into those having migraine, tension and cluster headache according to operational definitions. Migraine was identified in 56 participants. Further data was collected from the 56 migraineurs using a structured questionnaire, migraine disability assessment tool and visual analogue scale for pain intensity. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.

Results: Migraineurs were 56, mean age 21.16 + 1.714, predominant in females 46 (82.1%). Most common triggering factors, sleep deprivation 53 (94.6%), mental stress 51 (91.1%), missing meals 41 (73.2%), bright light 37 (66.1%), physical activity 44 (78.6%), photophobia 44 (78.6%) and phonophobia 36 (64.3%). Most students 20 (35.7%) suffered from moderate to severe disability 19 (33.9%) (MIDAS grade III and IV). Visual Analogue Scale showed 32 (57.14%) had severe pain (VAS scale 7-10). Association of lack of sleep (p=0.017), duration of headache (p = 0.014) with higher VAS score and duration of headache (p=0.046) with moderate to severe MIDAS grade was depicted. 

Conclusion: Migraine can be considered to be the commonest type of headache among medical students resulting in major disability and lost days of productivity