ABSTRACT
Headache is a common neurological condition among university students, and it can impact their academic performance. Objectives: to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and impact of headache on academic performance among undergraduate students of health sciences. Methods: The study was undertaken during February-June 2021 among a convenience sample of undergraduate students of Campus Lagarto of Federal University of Sergipe (UFS). Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire, which comprised a form with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics data and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Results: A total of 154 students participated in the study, with a mean of age of 23.35 ± 5.02 years and 75.9% were females. The overall headache prevalence was 93.5% in the past three months. Of those, 94.4% reported experiencing frequent headaches (≥2 episodes/month), 68.1% described the headache duration between 1-4 hours, with frontal predominance (38.9%), bilateral (50.7%), pulsating/throbbing quality (66.7%), moderate intensity (56.2%). Headache was associated with photophobia (53.9%), phonophobia (32.7%) and nausea (30.5%). Stress or anxiety (80.5%), excessive electronic devices use (68.8%), and sleep disturbance (61.7%) were considered as common triggering factors for headache among the participants. The MIDAS score showed that 73.5% of the students had some disability, and 77.1% stated that headache negatively affect their academic achievements. Conclusion: The prevalence of headache among the students oh health sciences courses was high and negatively impacted their academic performance. Thus, further studies are recommended to design strategies to reduce the headache prevalence and to increase the academic performance of these students.
Cefaleia é uma condição neurológica comum entre estudantes universitários e pode impactar sua performance acadêmica. Objetivos: Investigar a prevalência, características clínicas e o impacto da cefaleia no desempenho acadêmico de estudantes da área da saúde. Métodos: Um total de 154 estudantes participou do estudo, com idade média de 23,35 ± 5,02 anos, sendo 75.9% mulheres. A prevalência de cefaleia foi 93,5% (144/154) nos últimos três meses. Dos estudantes com cefaleia, 94,4% relataram cefaleia frequente (≥2 episódios/mês), 68,1% descreveram duração das crises entre 1 e 4 horas, com predominância frontal (38,9%), bilateral (50,7%), caráter pulsátil (66,7%), e intensidade moderada (56,25%). Cefaleia foi associada com fotofobia, fonobia e náusea em 53.9%, 32,7% e 30,5% dos estudantes, respectivamente. Estresse e ansiedade (80,5%), uso excessivo de aparelhos eletrônicos (68,8%) e distúrbios do sono (61.7%) foram considerados os principais fatores desencadeantes de cefaleia entre os participantes. O score do MIDAS mostrou que 73.5% dos estudantes tinham algum grau de incapacidade e 77.1% dos estudantes relataram impacto negativo da cefaleia em sua performance acadêmica. Conclusão: A prevalência de cefaleia entre os estudantes da área da saúde foi alta e reduziu a performance acadêmica deles. Assim, mais estudos são recomendados para melhorar o conhecimento sobre a epidemiologia da cefaleia entre estes estudantes e aumentar seu desempenho acadêmico.