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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – MOUNT ROYAL, NJ (January 20, 2015) – In a new analysis of statistics from four reliable government databases, researchers report in the January issue of Headache that the prevalence of migraine and severe headache in the U.S. has remained consistently high over the last eight years (a prevalence rate is the percentage of cases of a disease in a specific population at a given time). The scientists also found that a higher proportion of disease burden has continued to fall on women, especially during their reproductive years, and on vulnerable populations, including the unemployed. In addition, they found that a high percentage of migraine sufferers sought treatment during this time in hospital emergency rooms, where they received the most commonly recommended treatment (triptans) in only a few instances – instead, being given opioids more than a third of the time.
“We conducted this study because migraine and other recurrent headache disorders are prominent causes of personal suffering,” said lead author Rebecca C. Burch, MD, who is a staff physician in the Graham Headache Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School. “We thought it important to have an updated and accurate picture of the prevalence, burden and treatment of migraine and severe headache in the United States.”
Among their findings:
- Migraine or severe headache affects roughly one out of every seven Americans.
- Migraine is 2-3 times more common among women than men.
- The prevalence of migraine or severe headaches remained stable over various studied three-month periods between 2005 and 2012 (3-month prevalence), with an average prevalence of 20.2% in women and 9.4% in men.
- Migraine prevalence is higher than average among low-income Americans, the unemployed, uninsured, and those working part time.
- One out of every six outpatient visits for migraine takes place in the emergency room.
- In 2010, opioids were given in 35% of ER visits for headache, while triptans were given only 1.5% of the time.
- Migraine is less frequently diagnosed among active duty service members than the general population, but one-year prevalence is increasing.
To reach these and other study conclusions, the research team searched the most current publicly available summary statistics from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey, and the National Health Interview Survey. Researchers also obtained data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System, which includes health data on active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and searched the government’s PubMed medical research database for publications reporting summary statistics based on these studies. The team abstracted and double-checked the data, and then summarized it over various time periods and analyzed it for sociodemographic variables.
“Despite differing methodologies and sampling strategies, the three population-based studies confirm that migraine remains a highly prevalent medical condition,” said co-author Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, Chief, Division of Headache and Pain, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; and Immediate Past President, American Headache Society. “These are the best and most current government-collected data available, including nationwide population-based data sources likely to include the most accurate estimates of migraine prevalence. The consistency of prevalence estimates across these studies suggests that these estimates are accurate and stable over time.”
To view the complete study, including a detailed description of methodology, additional findings and citations for other population-based migraine studies, visit the American Migraine Foundation at www.
ABOUT MIGRAINE: Some 36 million Americans live with migraine, more than have asthma and diabetes combined. An estimated three to seven million Americans live with chronic migraine, a highly disabling neurological disorder. Migraine can be extremely disabling and costly, accounting for more than $20 billion in direct (e.g. doctor visits, medications) and indirect (e.g. missed work, lost productivity) expenses each year in the United States.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN MIGRAINE FOUNDATION AND AMERICAN HEADACHE SOCIETY: The American Migraine Foundation is a non-profit foundation supported by the American Headache Society and generous donors dedicated to the advancement of migraine research. Its mission is to support innovative research that will lead to improvement in the lives of those who suffer from migraine and other disabling headaches. www.
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