Comparison of Disability Due to Migraine with Aura Among Male and Female Bankers

Abstract

Background: Migraine with aura (MwA) is a disabling neurological condition that can be amplified by high-stress occupations such as banking. Objective: To compare MwA-related disability between male and female bankers in Sialkot, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 357 bankers (178 males, 179 females) aged 25–40 years with ≥1 year of permanent employment who met ICHD-3 criteria for MwA. Migraine screening was performed using the Migraine Screening Questionnaire (MSQ), and disability was quantified using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Non-normality supported non-parametric testing; Mann–Whitney U compared MIDAS total (MidasSum) distributions by gender, and Chi-square tested association between gender and MIDAS grades. Results: Mean age was 32.88±5.10 years in males and 30.17±4.05 years in females. MIDAS grades in males were: Grade I 18.5%, Grade II 43.3%, Grade III 25.3%, Grade IV 12.9%; in females: Grade I 14.0%, Grade II 26.3%, Grade III 41.3%, Grade IV 18.4%. Gender was significantly associated with MIDAS grade (χ²(3)=17.21, p=.001), and females had higher disability ranks (mean rank 198.98 vs 158.90). Conclusion: Female bankers with MwA demonstrated higher disability severity than males, with a shift toward moderate disability, supporting gender-responsive workplace prevention and accommodation strategies.