Reviews
Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Management of Migraine among the Adult Population in Saudi Arabia: A Review
Publish Date:16/Sep/2026
Fahad SZ Alanazi¹, Abdullah K Abusoliman²*, Amal N Alamri³, Mohammed YB Abutaleb⁴, Ahmed H Khan², Lugeen MA Al Khulaif⁵, Reem E Ragab⁶, Ruyuf A Alabdali⁷, Abdullah A Albassam⁸, Rahf AH Hakami⁹, Aryam S Al-Malki¹⁰, Albatul RE Busaleh¹¹, Nouf IM Bahathek¹², Asma AA Alsulami¹³, Abdulrahman MM Alshehri¹⁴
DOI:10.64039/djms.2026.2402Background: Migraine is a common and disabling primary headache disorder. Evidence from Saudi Arabia includes national surveys and numerous population subgroups, but differences in sampling and case ascertainment complicate interpretation of prevalence, associated factors, and management outcomes.
Aim:
To synthesise evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, and management of migraine among adults living in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language primary studies published from 2016 to 10 July 2026. Findings were synthesised narratively because populations, diagnostic methods, and outcomes differed. Methodological limitations were assessed descriptively. Two reports with mixed adolescent–adult samples were separated from the adult-focused synthesis when adult-only findings could not be established.
Results:
Of 652 records, 25 reports were retained; 23 contributed to the adult-focused synthesis and two were retained only as mixed-age context. Two national reports analysed the same 2,316 participants. The population-based survey estimated an adjusted one-year migraine prevalence of 25.0%. Other estimates reflected different populations and measures and were not combined into a single prevalence range. Female sex and psychiatric symptoms were associated with migraine in several surveys, without establishing causal direction. Two retrospective onabotulinumtoxinA reports described reductions in headache frequency or disability, but lacked untreated comparison groups. Medication-overuse headache and reported analgesic use were associated with poorer migraine-related quality of life.
Conclusion:
Migraine places a substantial burden on adults living in Saudi Arabia. Population-based estimates should be distinguished from screening positivity and clinic or occupational proportions. Saudi observational treatment reports describe improvement but do not independently establish comparative effectiveness. Heterogeneous, predominantly cross-sectional primary studies limit the certainty of the synthesis.
Original Article
Knowledge of osteoarthritis and its risk factors among the general population in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, 2024–2025
Publish Date:14/Sep/2026
Elwaleed Mohamed Elsheikh¹, Bayan Mathaf Aloqaybi²*, Hayf Zayed Oraidah², Lina Mathaf Aloqaybi²
DOI:https://doi.org/10.64039/djms.2026.2401Introduction:
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is characterized by degenerative changes in the articular cartilage and other joint tissues, with variable synovial inflammation. Its prevalence is rising worldwide, and an estimated 528 million people were affected in 2019.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among residents of Bisha aged 18 years or older. Data were collected with an Arabic, self-administered online questionnaire using convenience sampling. A total of 442 respondents took part. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 26.
Results:
Cartilage degeneration was identified as the mechanism of osteoarthritis by 47.5% of respondents, while 52.5% chose another response or were unsure. Osteoarthritis was recognized as a chronic disease by 62.0%, and 64.7% recognized that it is not rare. Knowledge of symptoms varied: 48.4% knew that joint pain is not the only symptom and 64.9% were aware that osteoarthritis can reduce joint mobility. For risk factors, 30.8% did not know whether genetics contributes, 74.4% recognized aging as a contributor, and 48.0% correctly rejected equal prevalence in males and females. For diagnosis, 58.8% stated that physical examination and X-rays are used. No statistically significant association was found between knowledge category and sex (p = 0.615), age (p = 0.522) or education level (p = 0.839).
Conclusion:
Respondents showed substantial gaps and misconceptions in their knowledge of osteoarthritis. Many understood that the disease is chronic, but misunderstandings about its causes, risk factors and diagnostic methods persisted.