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Abstract

Objectives: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migraineur’s quality of life and confounding factors. Methods: This is an observational cohort study conducted in Rashid hospital, Dubai Health Authority, UAE. Study was plotted to assess migraine indices in pre-COVID period, pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and to evaluate the pandemic induced paradigm shift in migraine management. Results: Out of 840 migraineurs 201 patients were selected, with an obvious female predominance (78%). Migraine without Aura was found in 70% and Migraine with Aura in 29.9%. Mean MIDAS score during period I, II and II was 22.78, 18.58 and 17.92 respectively indicating certain degree of improvement rather than deterioration during pandemic ( p =0.001). Interestingly significant reduction in both migraine frequency and severity from pre-COVID to COVID period was noticed ( p =0.01). Parameters like headache days/month, use of abortive therapy and Emergency visits also declined. Chronic migraine (CM) showed more improvement than episodic migraine (EM). Confounding factors like distance working and lack of social/professional stress mainly rendered this change. A modified strategy to handle headache during any pandemic/crisis can ensure quality management of migraine. Conclusion: Migraine patients had a resilient behavior during the COVID pandemic and showed significant improvement of all indices. Confounding factors like distance working played the most favorable role.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

156

Last Page

163

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