Prevalence and characteristics of migraine and tension-type headache in preclinical medical students at universitas Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionHeadache is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, affecting up to 50% of adults, with medical students being particularly vulnerable. Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are highly prevalent in this population due to academic stress, sleep deprivation, and demanding schedules. This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of migraine and TTH, including their precipitating factors, among preclinical medical students at Universitas Indonesia.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2024 involving first- to third-year medical students of both sexes who had experienced headaches in the previous three months. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising the Headache Screening Questionnaire (HSQ), Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), demographic data, headache characteristics, and precipitating factors.ResultsThe prevalence of migraine and TTH was 40.2% and 59.7%, respectively. Most participants were 17–19 years old (54.5%), predominantly female (71.4%), and in their third year (38.9%). The most common precipitating factors perceived by participants for migraine were long working hours and inadequate sleep (93.5%). For TTH, the leading perceived triggers were long working hours (86.9%), fatigue (80.4%), sleep deprivation (78.2%), anxiety (71.7%), and stress (54.3%).ConclusionMigraine and TTH are highly prevalent among preclinical medical students, with stress, workload, and inadequate sleep emerging as major contributing factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted preventive strategies, including stress management, sleep regulation, and lifestyle modification programs, to reduce headache burden and support students' academic performance and well-being.