The incremental burden and healthcare resource utilization among people with migraine in Europe: Insights from the 2020 European National Health and Wellness Survey

Abstract

Background Despite the high prevalence of migraine in Europe, there is limited research on the burden among people with migraine. Methods This cross-sectional survey used patient-reported data from the 2020 European National Health and Wellness Survey in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The study assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, health-related quality of life, depression, work productivity and activity impairment, and healthcare resource utilization among matched samples of people with diagnosed migraine (n = 3985) and compared to a matched cohort without migraine (n = 7970). The study also analyzed the burden across migraine subgroups stratified by the number of migraine headache days. Results Lower health-related quality of life, higher depression, increased work productivity and activity impairment, and higher healthcare resource utilization were reported among people with migraine and ≥1 migraine headache days compared to matched people without migraine (all p < 0.001). Additionally, the incremental burden was also observed across migraine subgroups (1–3, 4–7, 8–14, and ≥15 migraine headache days) irrespective of the use of prescription medication compared to the matched controls without migraine. Conclusion Migraine sufferers with ≥1 migraine headache days experienced worse productivity, lower quality of life, depression, and increased healthcare resource utilization than those without migraine, emphasizing the need for effective management strategies.