Identifying Migraine Triggers profile in the Indian Context: Insights for Global Perspective

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the association between the Migraine Disability Assessment scale and various aggravating triggers in migraine patients. Method: A total of 129 Indian migraine patients, aged 15-65, were recruited from the Bangalore Neuro Centre for this cross-sectional study. An extensive list of possible migraine triggers along with the Migraine Disability Assessment scale was included in a self-administered questionnaire to gather important demographic and migraine-related data. Each subject’s diagnosis of migraine was confirmed by a neurologist. The Chi Square test was used to determine the significant association between Migraine Disability Assessment grades and specific triggering factors. Result: Our results indicate that there is significant relationship between Migraine Disability Assessment scale and various aggravating triggers in migraine patients. The specific triggers that affect migraine includes food items (e.g., nuts and chicken), sensory stimuli (e.g., loud noises and strong smells), weather variations (e.g., rain), stress-related factors (e.g., night shifts), and other factors (e.g., head banging and solitude). Interpretation: This present study suggests that by identifying and managing these triggers, migraine suffers may see a reduction in their Migraine Disability Assessment scores and an improvement in their overall quality of life. Understanding these relationship is essential for clinicians to develop effective, personalised management strategies for migraine patients.