Health-related Quality of Life of University Students in Lebanon: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study Between Students with and without Migraine.

Background: migraine can negatively affect students' health, well-being, and physical, mental, and cognitive functions. Aims: This study aims to (i) compare the health-related QoL of students with and without migraines, (ii) assess the association between higher QoL scores and the general characteristics of the students, and (iii) evaluate the predictors of higher QoL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over four months between November 2019 and April 2020, targeting 1095 students from the public university campus faculties. Data were collected using a validated tool (SF-8) through face-to-face interviews performed by four pharmacy students. Results: Cases had significantly lower scores in all the physical domains compared to controls, with an overall total score of 62.0 (16.7) compared to 73.1 (18.4) (p<0.001). Similarly, lower overall scores for the mental domains were noted for cases (61.3 (16.7)). Caffeine consumption affected mental scores, where 71.9% of non-consumers had significantly higher scores than others (54.5%; p=0.015). Moreover, the higher the academic satisfaction, the better the QoL, with 61.2% of students who reported high satisfaction having higher scores in the mental domains compared to only 34.2% of those reporting low academic satisfaction (p=0.008). On the other hand, 62.6% of male students without migraine had significantly higher PC scores than females (48.2%; p<0.001), and those in their last academic years had substantially higher PC scores compared to those in their first two years (p=0.004). Cigarette and waterpipe smokers had lower PC scores among controls (p=0.042 and 0.012, respectively), and around 60% of those practicing sports had higher PC and MC scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: Migraine adversely affected students on both physical and psychological aspects, translated by lower QoL scores. The predictors of a better QoL should be considered when developing treatment plans and supporting those affected by this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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