Migraine patients in Germany - Need for Medical Recognition and New Preventive Treatments: Results from the PANORAMA Survey

Abstract

Background: Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks that may have a significant impact on patients’ daily life. Treatment options must often be re-evaluated in light of efficacy, tolerability and compliance issues. Few data on commonly applied treatment algorithms and treatment failures have existed in Germany in 2017/2018. The PANORAMA survey was designed to explore and characterize the migraine healthcare landscape and to demonstrate the medical treatment need at that time in Germany.Methods: Three different questionnaires were used to assess the profile of the 119 participating centers, characterize migraine patients at centers and evaluate qualitative aspects of the current migraine healthcare situation from a physician´s professional perspective. Data were analyzed as observed and summarized by descriptive statistics.Results: The results demonstrate that once referred to a migraine specialist, the majority of patients continue to be treated at a specialist. At specialized centers, 41.6% of migraine patients receive prophylactic treatment. 45.4% of prophylactic treatments are initiated with a beta-blocker and 28.1% with an anti-epileptic. Pivotal factors to initiate prophylactic treatment are migraine attack frequency and intensity (58.0%). Treatment decisions are largely based on prior / concomitant diseases and physical constitution of the patient (52.1%). Following an inadequate treatment, most patients either switch substance class or discontinue prophylactic treatment. Conclusions: PANORAMA gives a comprehensive overview of the migraine healthcare landscape in Germany in 2017/2018, elucidates a lack of common treatment algorithms and reveals a high demand for defined therapy strategies and new prophylactic treatment going forwards.