Objective To explore the characteristics of prodromal symptoms, the relationship between prodromal symptoms and headache prognosis and early warning ability in patients with migraine.

Methods A total of 107 patients with migraine diagnosed from January 2018 to August 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into two groups according to whether they had prodromal period or not, and the characteristic differences between the two groups were compared.

Results Among the 107 patients, 68 cases (63.55%) had prodromal symptoms and 39 cases (36.45%) had no prodromal symptoms. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score and migraine specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ, 2.1) in the group with prodromal symptoms were (7.66±0.21) and (72.01±14.49) points, respectively. In the group without prodromal symptoms, the scores of VAS and MSQ were (6.98±0.27) and (58.76±15.33) points, respectively. There were significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared to the group without prodromal symptoms, the group with prodromal symptoms had a higher degree of pain and a more serious degree of impaired quality of life. The most common symptoms of prodromal migraine were neck stiffness (50.00%), fatigue (45.59%) and frequent yawning (41.18%). In terms of headache warning, neck stiffness had the highest warning value among the three, followed by frequent yawning. People with high-warning symptoms had longer duration of headache (P < 0.05).

Conclusions The prodromal symptoms of migraine may indicate more severe pain and worse quality of life, and the neck stiffness and frequent yawning are common; Neck stiffness has a higher warning value for headaches, and it should draw more attention from physicians.