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Review
. 2025 Feb;14(1):145-183.
doi: 10.1007/s40122-024-00686-3. Epub 2024 Dec 30.

Prevalence, Treatment, and Unmet Needs of Migraine in the Middle East: A Systematic Review

Taoufik Alsaadi  1 , AbuBakar Al Madani  2 , Mohammed Alhatou  3 , Mona Nada  4 , Abdulrazaq Albilali  5 , Ahmed Al-Qassabi  6 , Hegab Mohamed  7 , Haytham Mohamed  7 , Rowan El Masry  8 , Ghaidaa Ahmed Saifuddin  9 , Suhail Abdullah AlRukn  10
Affiliations
Review

Prevalence, Treatment, and Unmet Needs of Migraine in the Middle East: A Systematic Review

Taoufik Alsaadi et al. Pain Ther. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by recurrent throbbing, moderate-to-severe headaches that disrupt daily chores, leisure, and social activities of patients, impacting their overall quality of life (QoL). Despite the high disease burden, there is a scarcity of data on migraines within the Middle East (ME) region. Thus, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to examine epidemiological data, treatment patterns, QoL, and unmet needs regarding migraines in the ME region.

Methods: Electronic searches were carried out using the MEDLINE® and Embase® databases via the OvidSP® platform for articles published prior to April 2024. The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the selection of studies were based on the Patients, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study design framework, which identified 42 studies.

Results: The prevalence of migraines reported from the region ranged between 2.6 and 32%, and the average age of patients with migraines reported in these studies ranged from 27 to 37.5 years. The data indicated a gender disparity in migraine prevalence, with women exhibiting a 2- to 2.5-fold higher prevalence. Common comorbidities reported were depression, anxiety, and irritable bowel disease. Migraines significantly impact patients' physical and emotional well-being, leading to disabilities and loss of productivity. The most common triggers of migraines were sleep disorders, dietary habits, and stress. The current treatment landscape for acute migraines encompasses anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, triptans, ditans, calcitonin-gene-related peptides, and antiemetics. However, migraines in the region are often underestimated, underreported, and undertreated. Several unmet needs persist in the region, including delayed referral along with delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, poor treatment adherence, limited accessibility to treatments, and a lack of awareness among health care providers and patients.

Conclusions: The SLR highlights knowledge gaps in clinical aspects and the treatment of migraines and enables clinicians to make informed decisions to ensure optimal patient outcomes in diverse clinical settings.

Keywords: Comorbidity; Epidemiology; Middle East; Migraine; Quality of Life; Treatments.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: Taoufik Alsaadi received consultancy fees, speaker fees, and research grants from Novartis AG, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc, H.Lundbeck A/S, Pfizer Inc., and AbbVie Inc.; Mohammed Alhatou received consultancy fees, speaker fees, and research grants from Novartis AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Astra AB, H.Lundbeck A/S, Pfizer Inc., and AbbVie Inc. He received support for attending AAN, ECTRIMS, and EAN meetings and related travel expenses. Mona Nada received consultancy fees, travel support, and speaker fees from Novartis AG, Eli Lilly and Company, and Pfizer Inc.; she is also a co-chair of the Cluster Headache Special Interest Group in the International Headache Society; Ahmed Al-Qassabi received consultancy fees and speaker fees from Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Biogen Inc., and AbbVie Inc.; Hegab Mohamed, Haytham Mohamed, Ghaidaa Ahmed Saifuddin, and Rowan El Masry are employees of Pfizer Inc. The remaining authors (AbuBakar Al Madani, Abdulrazaq Albilali, and Suhail Abdullah AlRukn) do not have any financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare. Ethical Approval: This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any new studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Unmet needs of migraine in the Middle East
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