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The Burden of Migraine

A Review of Cost to Society

  • Review Article
  • Burden of Migraine
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Abstract

Migraine is a common episodic disorder with considerable impact on individuals and society. Migraine occurs with the highest prevalence between the ages of 25 and 55 years, potentially the most productive period of life. Severe migraine can lead todisruption of work. family and social life, the long term consequences of which may affect quality of life. The direct costs of migraine (due to medical care) are small compared with the indriect costs caused by absence from work and reduced productivity.

Population-based studies are required to assess incidence. prevalence and distribution of the disease. These studies also reveal that migraine is currently underdiagnosed and undertreated. The cumulative impact of migraine on individuals produces the burden of illness on society. Measuring the severity of migraine is important in understanding the extent of the burden of migraine on the individual and on society. Measures of severity may be useful as predictors of disability and healthcare use. These measures may also be useful in assessing the need for patient care and treatment and help larget those more disabled by migraine. Identifying and treating appropriate patients should reduce the impact of migraine on the individual and the burden of migraine on society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the Headache Unit, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    Richard B. Lipton

  2. School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Walter F. Stewart

  3. Centerfor Health Studies, Group Health of Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Michael Von Korff

Authors
  1. Richard B. Lipton
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  2. Walter F. Stewart
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  3. Michael Von Korff
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Lipton, R.B., Stewart, W.F. & Korff, M.V. The Burden of Migraine. Pharmacoeconomics 6, 215–221 (1994). https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199406030-00005

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-199406030-00005

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