Impact and care gaps of headache disorders in active-duty military personnel: A cross-sectional study from a European armed forces population

Aim Primary headache disorders such as migraine and tension-type headache are highly prevalent in military populations and may severely impact operational performance and readiness. Despite this, data from many European armed forces are lacking. This study investigates headache phenotypes, diagnosis, treatment and functional impairment in active-duty personnel of a major European military organization. Methods This cross-sectional cohort study utilized an anonymous 33-item online questionnaire distributed across military medical centers in Germany between May and July 2023. The survey assessed demographics, headache types according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3), diagnostic awareness, treatment history and headache-related disability using the Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS). Results Of the 1189 participants, 914 (77%) completed the survey. Among them, 839 (94.9%) reported experiencing headaches in the past 12 months. Based on ICHD-3 criteria, 227 individuals (27.1%) met the complete set of criteria for migraine, while 246 (29.2%) were classified as probable migraine. Tension-type headache was reported by 222 respondents (26.5%), and cluster headache was resported by 34 (4.1%). Notably, 61.4% of participants had never received a formal diagnosis and only 38.6% had ever sought medical care for their headaches. Functional impairment was substantial: 63.8% reported losing at least one workday in the past three months due to headache. Among those with migraine, an average of 3.9 workdays per month were lost. Despite this burden, only 27.3% of individuals with migraine had ever used preventive medication. Conclusions Primary headache disorders are common, underdiagnosed and inadequately treated in this military population, leading to significant functional and operational impairment. Our findings underscore the urgent need for improved screening, diagnosis and evidence-based treatment strategies in uniformed health systems. The results may inform similar efforts in other military and high-demand occupational settings.