Knowledge of Headache Red Flags among the General Population of Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: Insufficient recognition of ominous headache red flags delays specialized care for potentially life‑threatening secondary pathologies. Population‑level awareness in Saudi Arabia warrants assessment to guide public health planning. The aim of the study was to evaluate headache red flag knowledge and associated care‑seeking attitudes among Saudi adults through a cross‑sectional survey. Methods: A multistage random sample of 643 Saudis aged 15–85 years was recruited proportionally across 13 regions from November 23, 2023 to February 14, 2024. A self‑administered questionnaire assessed knowledge of 12 common red flags through closed responses. Total scores were calculated, and associations with demographic/clinical predictors were examined using statistics including Chi‑square, ANOVA, and Bayesian correlations. Results: Mean knowledge score was 11.73/24 indicating partial overall understanding. Higher scores correlated with male gender, ages 36–55 years, tertiary education, and prior headache histories. Knowledge of key red flags like “thunderclap headache” was incomplete. Timely specialist evaluation for concerning symptoms received limited endorsement over analgesic use. Vulnerable subgroups demonstrating low awareness included females, youth, and those reliant on unreliable hazard information sources. Conclusion: Saudi adults demonstrated modest yet uneven headache red flag knowledge influenced by sociodemographic attributes. Specific deficits warrant targeted educational campaigns addressing individual and systemic barriers to prompt neurological evaluations for alarm symptoms. Public health efforts involving experts, community leaders, and technological innovations hold promise enhancing timely diagnosis of secondary pathologies nationwide if periodically monitored.