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Trends in migraine and tension-type headaches in South Asia: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (1990-2021)

Satapathy P 1 , Chauhan S 2 , Gaidhane S 3 , Bishoyi AK 4 , Priya GP 5 , Jayabalan K 6 Show all authors , Mishra S 7 , Sharma S 8 , Bushi G 9 , Shabil M 10 , Syed R 11 , Kundra K 12 , Dev N 13 , Ansar S 14 , Sah S 15 , Zahiruddin QS 16 , Samal SK 17 , Jena D 18 , Goh KW 19

Affiliations 

  • 1 Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, India
  • 2 Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
  • 3 One Health Centre (COHERD), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
  • 4 Marwadi University Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Marwadi University, Rajkot, India
  • 5 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India
  • 6 Department of Chemistry, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
  • 7 Department of Pharmacology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India
  • 8 Department of Pharmacy, Chandigarh Pharmacy College, Chandigarh Group of Colleges-Jhanjeri, Mohali, India
  • 9 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
  • 10 University Center for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
  • 11 IES Institute of Pharmacy, IES University, Bhopal, India
  • 12 New Delhi Institute of Management, New Delhi, India
  • 13 Department of Dermatology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, India
  • 14 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • 15 Department of Paediatrics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri-Chinchwad, India
  • 16 South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network (SAIFRN), Global Consortium of Public Health and Research, Division of Evidence Synthesis, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India
  • 17 Unit of Immunology and Chronic Disease, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • 18 Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (Pharmacy Institute), Greater Noida, India
  • 19 Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
Front Neurol, 2025;16:1514712.
PMID: 40109844 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1514712

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Headache disorders, including migraines and tension-type headaches (TTH), are major contributors to global disability. In South Asia, where these conditions are often underdiagnosed, their burden has grown substantially. This study evaluates trends in headache disorders across eight South Asian countries from 1990 to 2021, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021.

METHODS: Data from the GBD study were analysed to evaluate incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for headache disorders and their subtypes. Trends were assessed using absolute numbers and age-standardized rates, with demographic patterns by age and gender examined to identify vulnerable populations. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to detect significant temporal shifts.

RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, headache disorders in South Asia rose from 114.2 million to 206.8 million in incidence, and from 367.4 million to 698.5 million in prevalence, with YLDs nearly doubling from 6.0 million to 11.6 million. Migraines accounted for 294.4 million cases, while TTH contributed 495.4 million cases, with YLDs increasing by 92.88 and 99.35%, respectively. Afghanistan saw the highest relative growth, while India contributed the largest absolute burden. Women and middle-aged adults were disproportionately affected, with the highest prevalence observed in females aged 30-34 years. The Maldives showed dramatic increases in TTH-related YLDs, highlighting disparities in smaller nations.

CONCLUSION: The rising burden of headache disorders in South Asia highlights the need for region-specific strategies targeting high-burden subtypes, countries, and vulnerable populations to mitigate their disabling impacts.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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