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Review
. 2015 Aug;15(4):344-50.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-4-344.

Integrated care for chronic migraine patients: epidemiology, burden, diagnosis and treatment options

Hans-Christoph Diener  1 , Kasja Solbach  2 , Dagny Holle  2 , Charly Gaul  3
Affiliations
Review

Integrated care for chronic migraine patients: epidemiology, burden, diagnosis and treatment options

Hans-Christoph Diener et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder, characterised by severe headaches. Epidemiological studies in the USA and Europe have identified a subgroup of migraine patients with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is defined as ≥15 headache days per month for ≥3 months, in which ≥8 days of the month meet criteria for migraine with or without aura, or respond to treatment specifically for migraine. Chronic migraine is associated with a higher burden of disease, more severe psychiatric comorbidity, greater use of healthcare resources, and higher overall costs than episodic migraine (<15 headache days per month). There is a strong need to improve diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of chronic migraine. Primary care physicians, as well as hospital-based physicians, are integral to the identification and treatment of these patients. The latest epidemiological data, as well as treatment options for chronic migraine patients, are reviewed here.

Keywords: Chronic migraine; chronic daily headache; onabotulinumtoxinA; preventive treatment; primary care.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Primary care and the hospital-based physician's role in CM management. CM = chronic migraine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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