RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Migraine in the United States
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 885
OP 894
DO 10.1212/WNL.58.6.885
VO 58
IS 6
A1 R. B. Lipton
A1 A. I. Scher
A1 K. Kolodner
A1 J. Liberman
A1 T. J. Steiner
A1 W. F. Stewart
YR 2002
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/58/6/885.abstract
AB Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of migraine in the United States as well as current patterns of health care use. Methods: A random-digit-dial, computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) survey was conducted in Philadelphia County, PA, in 1998. The CATI identifies individuals with migraine (categories 1.1 and 1.2) as defined by the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society with high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (96%). Interviews were completed in 4,376 subjects to identify 568 with migraine. Those with 6 or more attacks per year (n = 410) were invited to participate in a follow-up interview about health care utilization and family impact of migraine; 246 (60.0%) participated. Results: The 1-year prevalence of migraine was 17.2% in females and 6.0% in males. Prevalence was highest between the ages of 30 and 49. Whereas 48% of migraine sufferers had seen a doctor for headache within the last year (current consulters), 31% had never done so in their lifetimes and 21% had not seen a doctor for headache for at least 1 year (lapsed consulters). Of current or lapsed consulters, 73% reported a physician-made diagnosis of migraine; treatments varied. Of all migraine sufferers, 49% were treated with over-the-counter medications only, 23% with prescription medication only, 23% with both, and 5% with no medications at all. Conclusion: Relative to prior cross-sectional surveys, epidemiologic profiles for migraine have remained stable in the United States over the last decade. Self-reported rates of current medical consultation have more than doubled. Moderate increases were seen in the percentage of migraine sufferers who use prescription medications and in the likelihood of receiving a physician diagnosis of migraine.