Patients with Migraine: Precipitating and Aggravating Factors, Disease Related Problems, Treatment Seeking Behaviour in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background: Migraine is highly prevalent, disabling and benign neurological disorder. It is characterized by unilateral throbbing pain, which is moderate to severe in intensity and associated with certain symptoms that may or may not be preceded by focal symptoms called an aura. The current study was conducted with the objectives to assess precipitating and aggravating factors, disease related problems and treatment seeking behaviour among patients with migraine attending neurology OPD in a tertiary hospital.

Materials and Method: The study was conducted by employing descriptive approach on 105 patients with migraine visiting neurology OPD, PGIMER, Chandigarh. The data was collected through structured interview and self-reports of the subjects. The data was analyzed using SPSS (version 16.0).

Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 35.16±1.06 years with a range of 17–62 years. Majority of them were females who reported noise and stress as the most common aggravating and precipitating factors with irritability, fatigue and light headedness as the most common symptoms associated with migraine attacks. All the study subjects were taking prescribed medications and >95% reported that the medications relieved their symptoms. Conclusion: Migraine is debilitating and affects sufferer’s quality of life. Management of aggravating and precipitating factors is an important aspect of migraine management on which extensive patient education is required.

Keywords: Aggravating factors, disease related problems, migraine, precipitating factors, treatment seeking behaviour

Cite this Article

Patients with Migraine: Precipitating and Aggravating Factors, Disease Related Problems, Treatment Seeking Behaviour in a Tertiary Hospital. Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical Science and Technology. 2016; 5(3): 13–21p.