Multidimensional Assessment of Chronic Headache Burden Using VAS,MIDAS and HIT-6: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Center in Bangladesh

Background: Headache disorders are one of the most common neurological disorders in the world and a significant but under-acknowledged burden to the population. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to perform the multidimensional assessment of chronic headache burden using VAS, MIDAS, and HIT-6 among the patients attended at a tertiary care center in Bangladesh. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional observational study that was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh during the month of May to July 2025. Consecutive enrolment of adult patients (patients aged 18 years and above) with chronic headache. The diagnosis of headaches has been laid down based on the ICHD, 3rd edition. Structured questionnaires and assessments that were conducted by physicians were used to gather sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, and headache-related variables. The VAS, MIDAS, and HIT-6 were used to assess the severity of headaches, disability, and impact. Results: A total number of 17 patients were included (mean age 42.9 ± 15.2 years; 53.8 per cent men), and the median BMI was 27.7 kg/m². The median VAS, MIDAS, and HIT-6 scores were 6 (4 to 8), 33 (17 to 47), and 58 (47 to 71), which reflects a high disease burden. Unilateral headache was present in 52.1%, visual aura happened in 50.4% and stress and sleep deprivation were some of the frequent inducers. It was common to find cardiometabolic comorbidities. The individual headache characteristics, lifestyle, and comorbidity did not have any significant negative relations with disability and impact (all p > 0.05). The only predictor of severe disability (MIDAS ≥ 21) was the risk of medication overuse, aOR is 0.20, 95% CI is 0.05-0.75; p =0.017). The female scores of HIT-6 were higher than those of the males (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic headache is very high in adults taking tertiary care in Bangladesh and is linked to a significant personal and socioeconomic burden. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, July 2025;11(2):150-158