RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Paradigm shift in migraine management impacted by COVID-19 pandemic and the role of confounding factors inflicting the change
JF Neurosciences Journal
JO Neurosciences (Riyadh)
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 156
OP 163
DO 10.17712/nsj.2022.3.20210058
VO 27
IS 3
A1 Malik, Yasir M.
A1 Karmastaji, Salama M.
A1 AlJarman, Khulood K.
A1 Abdelmajid, Yasmin A.
A1 Lootah, Muna H.
A1 Dar, Javeed A
A1 Almadani, Abubaker A.
YR 2022
UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/27/3/156.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migraineur’s quality of life and confounding factors.Methods: This is an observational cohort study conducted in Rashid hospital, Dubai Health Authority, UAE. Study was plotted to assess migraine indices in pre-COVID period, pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and to evaluate the pandemic induced paradigm shift in migraine management.Results: Out of 840 migraineurs 201 patients were selected, with an obvious female predominance (78%). Migraine without Aura was found in 70% and Migraine with Aura in 29.9%. Mean MIDAS score during period I, II and II was 22.78, 18.58 and 17.92 respectively indicating certain degree of improvement rather than deterioration during pandemic (p=0.001). Interestingly significant reduction in both migraine frequency and severity from pre-COVID to COVID period was noticed (p=0.01). Parameters like headache days/month, use of abortive therapy and Emergency visits also declined. Chronic migraine (CM) showed more improvement than episodic migraine (EM). Confounding factors like distance working and lack of social/professional stress mainly rendered this change. A modified strategy to handle headache during any pandemic/crisis can ensure quality management of migraine.Conclusion: Migraine patients had a resilient behavior during the COVID pandemic and showed significant improvement of all indices. Confounding factors like distance working played the most favorable role.