The Epidemiology of Migraine Headache in Arab Countries: A Systematic Review

Recurring migraine disorders are a common medical problem, standing among the top causes of disability and sufferings. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological evidence to report updated estimates on prevalence, risk factors, and associated comorbidities of migraine headache in the Arab countries. Design and Setting. A systematic review was conducted at the College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A systematic search in electronic databases, such as PubMed and Embase, as well as manual searches with cross-referencing was performed from 1990 up to 2019. Overall, 23 included papers were rated independently by two reviewers. Studies were eligible for inclusion only if they investigated migraine headache epidemiology in any Arab country and were published in English.

Migraine prevalence among the general population ranged between 2.6% and 32%. The estimated prevalence of migraine headache among medical university students ranged between 12.2% and 27.9% and between 7.1% and 13.7% in schoolchildren (6 to 18 years). Females were found more likely to have migraine than males. The duration of migraine attacks became shorter with increasing age, while chronic (daily) migraine showed increasing prevalence with age. The most commonly reported comorbidities with migraine included anxiety, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression. Most common headache-triggering factors included stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances, prolonged exposure to excessive sunlight or heat, and hunger.

The prevalence and risk factors of migraine headache in Arab countries are comparable to reports from western countries. Longitudinal studies are still needed to investigate the prognosis and predictors of chronicity in the arab countries.