Chronic migraine prevalence, disability, and sociodemographic factors: Results from the American migraine prevalence and prevention study

Dawn C. Buse, Aubrey N. Manack, Kristina M. Fanning, Daniel Serrano, Michael L. Reed, Catherine C. Turkel, Richard B. Lipton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

386 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives.-To estimate the prevalence and distribution of chronic migraine (CM) in the US population and compare the age- and sex-specific profiles of headache-related disability in persons with CM and episodic migraine. Background.-Global estimates of CM prevalence using various definitions typically range from 1.4% to 2.2%, but the influence of sociodemographic factors has not been completely characterized. Methods.-The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study mailed surveys to a sample of 120,000 US households selected to represent the US population. Data on headache frequency, symptoms, sociodemographics, and headache-related disability (using the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale) were obtained. Modified Silberstein-Lipton criteria were used to classify CM (meeting International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition, criteria for migraine with a headache frequency of â¥15 days over the preceding 3 months). Results.-Surveys were returned by 162,756 individuals aged â¥12 years; 19,189 individuals (11.79%) met International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition, criteria for migraine (17.27% of females; 5.72% of males), and 0.91% met criteria for CM (1.29% of females; 0.48% of males). Relative to 12 to 17 year olds, the age- and sex-specific prevalence for CM peaked in the 40s at 1.89% (prevalence ratio 4.57; 95% confidence interval 3.13-6.67) for females and 0.79% (prevalence ratio 3.35; 95% confidence interval 1.99-5.63) for males. In univariate and adjusted models, CM prevalence was inversely related to annual household income. Lower income groups had higher rates of CM. Individuals with CM had greater headache-related disability than those with episodic migraine and were more likely to be in the highest Migraine Disability Assessment Scale grade (37.96% vs 9.50%, respectively). Headache-related disability was highest among females with CM compared with males. CM represented 7.68% of migraine cases overall, and the proportion generally increased with age. Conclusions.-In the US population, the prevalence of CM was nearly 1%. In adjusted models, CM prevalence was highest among females, in mid-life, and in households with the lowest annual income. Severe headache-related disability was more common among persons with CM and most common among females with CM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1456-1470
Number of pages15
JournalHeadache
Volume52
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2012

Keywords

  • chronic migraine
  • episodic migraine
  • headache-related disability
  • prevalence
  • sociodemographics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chronic migraine prevalence, disability, and sociodemographic factors: Results from the American migraine prevalence and prevention study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this