The family impact and costs of migraine

Abstract

Objective: To obtain information on migraine and its impact on the family, particularly on the healthcare utilization and productivity of family members without migraine.

Study design: Retrospective study using linked medical and pharmacy claims data that allowed identification of families and individuals with migraine.

Patients and methods: Families with at least 1 migraineur were matched with up to 3 nonmigraineur families on employer, age of migraineur, number of family members, sex, and index date quarter. For a subset of employees, data on short- and long-term disability as well as absenteeism also were evaluated to determine the impact of migraine on these indirect costs.

Results: The total healthcare costs of a family with a migraineur were 70% higher than those of the nonmigraine family, with most of the difference concentrated in outpatient costs. The impact of having a migraineur in the family persisted even after controlling for other disorders and demographics in a multivariate model. Total healthcare costs per family depended on which family member was the migraineur, and were about dollars 600 higher when the sole migraineur was a child versus a parent and almost dollars 2500 higher when both a parent and child were affected (compared with families in which the sole migraineur was a child). Work absence days, short-term disability, and workman's compensation days all were higher among migraine families than among families without a migraineur.

Conclusion: Migraine families incur far higher direct and indirect healthcare costs than nonmigraine families, with variation depending on which family member is the clinically detected migraineur.