Prevalence and Characteristics of Headache Among Medical Students in Egypt: a Multicentric Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal BMJ Neurol Open

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Oct 17

PMID 39415897

Authors

Rashad G Mohamed

Khalid Sarhan

Basma Kamel

Rahma M Almetwaly

Eslam E Fouda

Mostafa Meshref

Sara Bioumy

Doaa Alemam

Hebatalla A Ahmed

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Headaches are one of the most common neurological disorders, ranging in severity from mild discomfort to a severe, debilitating condition. Headaches are particularly prevalent among medical students, which can be attributed to various factors such as psychological stressors, extensive studying, long hours of clinical rotations and high-pressure examination. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of different types of headaches, along with analysing their associated clinical characteristics among medical students in Egypt.

Methods: A multicentric, descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted across five governmental faculties of medicine in Egypt from November 2022 to March 2023. Using a multistage random sampling method, 600 undergraduate students were selected to participate. Headache was diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Results: A total of 493 responses were included in the analysis; the prevalence of headache disorder was 264 (53.5%), with tension-type headaches (TTH) frequent episodic being the highest 89 (33.7%), while TTH chronic and migraine with aura were the least prevalent, accounting for 10 (3.8%) and 31 (11.7%), respectively. Women exhibited a higher overall headache prevalence (69.4%) compared with men (44.4%). A positive family history was found in 120 (45.5%) of students with headache. Lack of sleep and stress were the most frequently reported potential triggers for headaches. Out of 264 medical students, 171 (65%) took analgesics. Only 42 (24.6%) had a medical consultation, while most students 129 (75.4%) took over-the-counter medications.

Conclusion: Notably, headaches were prevalent in 264 (53.5%) of the respondents. TTH frequent and infrequent emerged as the most common headaches among medical students, followed by migraine without aura then migraine with aura. Participants were statistically different according to sex, faculty, academic year and living conditions. Alarmingly, despite the substantial prevalence, only 42 (24.6%) students sought medical consultation.

Citing Articles

Healthcare-seeking behaviors and barriers among medical students in Egypt: a national cross-sectional study.

El-Khawaga G, Omar Y, Elsaadany M, Ghazy M, Abdelaal A, Hekal M BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):743.

PMID: 39994708 PMC: 11849205. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21791-8.

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