Relationship Between Asthma and Headache Attacks in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Sami Alrasheedi; Kadi A Alhumaidi; Aeshah M Alharbi; Noura A Aldhowyan; Njood M Alobaid; Norah A Alturaif; Ghadi A Almatroudi; Moayed S Alkhalifah; Abdullah A Alrasheedi; Mousa N Alrashdi; Ahmad Alkhdairi

doi:10.7759/cureus.39784

Relationship Between Asthma and Headache Attacks in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia

Cureus. 2023 May 31;15(5):e39784. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39784. eCollection 2023 May.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, SAU.
² College of Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, SAU.
³ Department of Medicine, King Saud Hospital, Unaizah, SAU.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Buraidah Central Hospital, Buraidah, SAU.

Abstract

Background: Headaches are a common complaint among asthma patients. However, there is no study to assess the relationship between asthma and headaches or to assess the prevalence of headaches among asthma patients in Saudi Arabia. We aim to study the relationship between asthma and headaches and also to assess the prevalence of headaches among asthma patients.

Research methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 528 asthmatic patients. Participants were selected through non-probability sampling from the system of four hospitals (King Fahad Specialist Hospital, King Saud Hospital, Buraidah Central Hospital, and Qassim University Hospital). The duration of our study was one year from 11 September 2022 to 14 May 2023. Data collection was performed by using a pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed through IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) by using the chi-square test to assess the relationship between the qualitative variables and independent t-test and ANOVA for comparing the quantitative variables with a significant level set at p-value < 0.05.

Results: Five hundred and twenty-eight asthmatics were studied for demographics, asthma management, and headaches. Most of the patients were male, married, and university-educated. Sixty-one percent had uncontrolled asthma, and 47.3 percent of individuals had headaches, mostly migraines. Uncontrolled asthma was linked to greater headache prevalence. Gender, educational level, and headache type did not affect headache prevalence in demographic and asthma control subgroups. Co-occurring asthma and migraines may benefit from asthma control and treatment.

Conclusion: The research emphasizes the significant frequency of uncontrolled asthma and headaches among asthmatic patients. The association between asthma control and headache prevalence was statistically significant, highlighting the necessity for appropriate management and treatment techniques for both disorders. These findings have significant implications for health care providers and politicians seeking to improve the quality of life for those with asthma and co-occurring headaches.

Keywords: asthma; asthma control; factors affecting headache; headache; prevalence.