A comprehensive nationwide study has shed light on the patterns of migraine medication use across Norway over a decade. By delving into prescription data from the Norwegian Prescription Database, researchers have provided essential insights into the prevalence and trends of migraine treatment, highlighting significant gender differences and the issue of triptan overuse.
Incidence and Prevalence of Migraine Medication Use
The study tracked all individuals with migraine-related prescriptions from 2010 to 2020, uncovering that 327,904 individuals were migraine medication users. The incidence of migraine medication users ranged from 0.39% to 0.46%, while the 1-year prevalence saw an increase from 1.99% to 2.99%. Notably, the use of preventive medications surged by over 50% during this period, indicating a growing recognition of the importance of preventive treatment in managing migraines.
Gender Disparities in Medication Use
One of the critical findings of the study was the gender disparity in medication use. Preventive medications were prescribed significantly more often to women than men, with 39.72% of women receiving preventives compared to 33.75% of men. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for women being prescribed preventives was 1.41 (95% CI 1.38 to 1.44). Additionally, triptan overuse was more prevalent among women, yet women with overuse were more likely to be using preventive medications compared to men, with an aOR of 1.43 (95% CI 1.37 to 1.49).
From a market access perspective, these findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and tailored healthcare strategies to address the specific needs of different demographic groups. Ensuring equitable access to effective migraine treatments and preventive measures is crucial, particularly given the higher prevalence of migraine and triptan overuse among women.
Key Inferences
Implications for Healthcare Providers
The study’s findings have several important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers:
- There is a critical need for increased awareness and education about the risks of triptan overuse, particularly among women.
- Healthcare providers should be encouraged to explore various triptan options and preventive treatments to optimize migraine management.
- Efforts to ensure equitable access to migraine treatments must consider gender disparities and aim to provide tailored solutions for women who are disproportionately affected by migraines.
The study concludes that although the prevalence of medically treated migraines remains low, the frequent overuse of triptans, especially among women, warrants attention. Clinicians should be proactive in recognizing triptan overuse and prescribing preventive medications when appropriate, to improve patient outcomes and mitigate the risks associated with overuse.
Original Article:
Cephalalgia. 2024 Aug;44(8):3331024241268212. doi: 10.1177/03331024241268212.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe and discuss patterns of migraine medication use in the entire Norwegian population.
METHODS: In this nationwide, observational study, all individuals with a migraine-related prescription between 2010 and 2020 were identified using the Norwegian Prescription Database. The outcomes of interest were the incidence and 1-year prevalence of migraine medication users, as well as individuals with triptan overuse. Patterns of medication use were statistically compared between women and men adjusted for age, year of treatment start, comorbidities and county of residence calculating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS: We identified 327,904 migraine medication users. The incidence ranged from 0.39% to 0.46%, and the 1-year prevalence increased from 1.99% to 2.99%. Preventive use increased >50% during the study period. Preventives were significantly more often prescribed to women than to men (39.72% vs. 33.75%; aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.44). Triptan overuse was significantly more common among women, but women with overuse were more often using preventives, as compared to men (56.64% vs 52.69%; aOR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.37 to 1.49).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of medically treated migraine is low. Overuse of triptans is frequent, especially among women. Clinicians should be encouraged to try out different triptans, recognize triptan overuse, and prescribe preventives when indicated.
PMID:39149980 | DOI:10.1177/03331024241268212
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