The Prevalence, Impact, and Treatment of Migraine and Severe Headaches in the United States: A Review of Statistics From National Surveillance Studies

Abstract

estimates of the prevalence and burden of migraine and chronic migraine. Objective.-To gather in one place and compare the most current available estimates of the US adult prevalence of headache and migraine, and the number of affected people overall and in various subgroups, and to provide estimates of headache burden and treatment patterns by examining migraine and headache as a reason for ambulatory care and emergency department (ED) visits in the United States.Methods.-We reviewed published analyses from available epidemiological studies identified through searches of PubMed and the National Center for Health Statistics. We aimed to identify information about migraine and headache burden, and treatment in national surveys conducted over the last decade. For each source, we selected the best available and most current estimate of migraine or headache prevalence, and selected associated measures of disability, health care use, and treatment patterns.Results.-Compared with a slightly higher proportion of 22.7% in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 16.6% of adults 18 or older reported having migraine or other severe headaches in the last 3 months in the 2011 National Health Interview Survey. In contrast, the AMPP study found an overall prevalence of migraine of 11.7% and probable migraine of 4.5%, for a total of 16.2%. Data from National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey/National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that head pain was the fifth leading cause of ED visits overall in the US and accounted for 1.2% of outpatient visits. The burden of headache was highest in females 18-44, where the 3-month prevalence of migraine or severe headache was 26.1% and head pain was the third leading cause of ED visits. The prevalence and burden of headache was substantial even in the least affected subgroup of males 75 or older, where 4.6% reported experiencing severe headache or migraine in the previous 3 months. Triptans accounted for almost 80% of antimigraine analgesics prescribed at office visits in 2009, nearly half of which were for sumatriptan. Migraine is associated with increased risk for other physical and psychiatric comorbidities, and this risk increases with headache frequency.

The burden of neurological disease in theUnitedStates: A summary report and call to action

“…[22][23][24] Migraine Headache Headache is one of the most common of human afflictions. Migraine and severe headache affect up to 72 million Americans (22.7% of the general population) according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 25 which also estimated the prevalence of migraine alone at 16.2% in adults. 18,25 Migraine is most prevalent in younger patients, particularly women (26.1%), although it is still very common in the elderly (18.7% of those aged 65-74 years), and in the economically disadvantaged.…”

“…Migraine and severe headache affect up to 72 million Americans (22.7% of the general population) according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 25 which also estimated the prevalence of migraine alone at 16.2% in adults. 18,25 Migraine is most prevalent in younger patients, particularly women (26.1%), although it is still very common in the elderly (18.7% of those aged 65-74 years), and in the economically disadvantaged. 25 Most studies have focused on the economic burden of migraine alone, which causes substantial disability and lost work productivity because it strikes most frequently during the prime working years.…”

“…18,25 Migraine is most prevalent in younger patients, particularly women (26.1%), although it is still very common in the elderly (18.7% of those aged 65-74 years), and in the economically disadvantaged. 25 Most studies have focused on the economic burden of migraine alone, which causes substantial disability and lost work productivity because it strikes most frequently during the prime working years. 18,19,26,27 The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study calculated the cost of migraine by estimating the cost of chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) separately.…”

Trends in the Ambulatory Management of Headache: Analysis of NAMCS and NHAMCS Data 1999–2010

“…[1][2][3] It is among the most common chronic pain conditions resulting in lost productivity, leading to 5.4 % of the U.S. workforce missing work each year, and is one of the chief causes of disability worldwide. 4,5 Headache is among the most frequent reasons for visiting a physician, accounting for 12 million visits per year in the U.S., and costing upwards of $31 billion per year. [5][6][7] Most cases of headache presenting to clinicians are either acute presentations of a known chronic clinical condition or an acute self-limiting condition.…”

“…4,5 Headache is among the most frequent reasons for visiting a physician, accounting for 12 million visits per year in the U.S., and costing upwards of $31 billion per year. [5][6][7] Most cases of headache presenting to clinicians are either acute presentations of a known chronic clinical condition or an acute self-limiting condition. Thus, the assessment of headache depends on identifying the relatively rare instances when serious underlying causes are suspected, which frequently require further investigation.…”