Executive Functions, Anxiety and Their Relation to Social Participation and Quality of Life Among Children With Migraine During COVID-19

Executive functions, anxiety and their relation to social participation and quality of life among children with Migraine during COVID-19

Background:

Headaches are a frequent occurrence in children and adolescents, making them the most commonly reported pain complaint when seeking medical attention. (Genizi 2013) The prevalence of migraine shows an increase from 3% during the preschool years to 23% during high school years. (Al-Twaijri 2002) The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the well-being of children and adolescents, impacting various facets of their physical and mental health. Disrupted routines, prolonged periods of social isolation, increased screen time, and heightened stress and anxiety related to the pandemic have raised concerns about the potential amplification in frequency and severity of childhood migraines. Numerous studies have documented an upsurge in migraine symptoms and frequency among children during the pandemic.( Bonuccelli 2023, Dedeoglu 2023 Caronna 2023) Factors such as changes in sleep patterns, dietary habits, physical activity levels, and emotional stress contribute to the worsening of migraine in this population. ( Powers 2003, Riva 2006) Additionally, restricted access to healthcare services and disrupted follow-up care during the pandemic pose challenges for the management and treatment of childhood migraine. (Apetti 2020, Verhagen 2021, Reyes-Alvarez 2023) It is imperative for healthcare professionals to acknowledge these difficulties and provide appropriate support and interventions to mitigate the pandemic's impact on children with migraine. Future research should delve into the underlying mechanisms connecting pandemic-related factors to the exacerbation of migraine, enabling the development of targeted strategies for prevention and management.

Our study aimed to explore COVID-19 pandemic on the executive functions (EF), and quality of life of children with migraine and healthy controls. We compared EF between children with migraine and healthy controls. Then, both groups were further divided to children who were affected by COVID-19 those who were not affected by COVID-19. Comparisons within and between groups of EF, anxiety, participation and QOL were performed. Among children with migraine, we examined the implications of COVID-19 restrictions on EF; we examined the correlations between EF, anxiety, participation and QOL. Based on the correlations results, we examined whether EF, anxiety, migraine severity and participation predicted QOL.

Research Objective: