The Trigger Factors and Consecutive Events of Migraine Headaches Among Yemeni Patients Attending the Neurological Outpatients Department During July to December 2011

Abstract

Mohamed Sallam, Afif Al-Nabhi, Amin Abdulrab and Ali Ahmed Al-Zaazaai

Background: Migraine headache is a common cerebrovascular disorder ranked as the third most prevalent disorder in the world. Objective: To determine the triggering factors and consecutive events of migraine headaches among Yemeni patients.

Methods:This study was conducted from July to December 2011 for Yemeni migraine headache patients attending the neurological center in Sana’a City. It was a sectional study. All consecutive patients with a chief complaint of migraine headache were included in this study. Data collection and examination of cases were performed using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The diagnoses were made according to the International Headache Society.

Results: One hundred and forty-two patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of migraine were included in this study. Of 142 cases the majority (84.5%) were females and only (15.5%) were males the mean age of the patient was 33.06(+12.4). The triggering factors presented in (50.7%) of the patients in the form of stress, sound, light, smell, tiredness, sleep changes, and menses. Pulsating or throbbing migraine headaches were more frequent accounting for (99.3%), unilateral migraine headaches for (70.40%), were moderate to severe attacks of headache intensity, relieved by using drugs in (85.9%), sleeping in (45.8%), and darkness (52.5%). The frequently associated symptoms were photophobia, Phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting accounted for (78.9%, 79.6%, 83.8%, and 40%) respectively.

Conclusion: Migraine headaches were more frequent among women. Trigger factors were frequent among both sexes, and hormonal changes were more common in females, some of them can be avoided.

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