Healthcare resource use and indirect costs associated with migraine in Italy: results from the My Migraine Voice survey

Acute treatment of migraine: quantifying the unmet need through real-world data in Italy

OBJECTIVE

This study is describing subjects with migraine interrupting or not receiving triptans for acute treatment and providing a national-level estimate of people who might benefit from different therapeutic approaches.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis using IQVIA Longitudinal Patient Database. Starting from 18 + years old individuals with migraine, we selected two cohorts: subjects with triptans prescriptions before and no triptans prescriptions after Index Date (triptan withdraw) and subjects without triptans prescriptions both before and after Index Date (no triptan prescriptions). Index Date was the first record of a health encounter for migraine in 2019. Individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) within no triptan prescriptions group were also quantified.

RESULTS

Triptan withdraw and no triptan prescriptions cohorts numbered 605 and 3270, respectively, 5% and 29% of subjects with migraine. Mean age was 47 and 51 years respectively; women were more represented (~ 80%). Hypertension and thyroid disease were most frequent comorbidities; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were among most frequently recorded treatments. Subjects with CVD within no triptan prescriptions cohort were 621 and with triptan withdraw cohort subjects represented the basis to estimate those who might benefit from alternative options for the acute treatment of migraine, who were around 60,000 and accounted for 11% of subjects seeking primary care due to migraine.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis provides a real-word estimate of Italian people that might benefit from different therapeutic approaches as an alternative to triptans, which sometimes might be not effective and/or poorly tolerated. Such estimate should be intended as the lower limit of a wider range due to strict criteria adopted.

The Role of the Combination Paracetamol/Caffeine in Treatment of Acute Migraine Pain: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Thirty years ago, the first migraine-specific drugs (triptans) appeared. Today two new categories (gepants and ditans) are marketed for acute migraine treatment. That said, is there still a role for conventional therapy? The aim of the present narrative review is to provide an expert overview examining the possible role of the combination paracetamol/caffeine in treatment of acute migraine pain.

METHODS

To understand possible settings for more appropriate use of paracetamol/caffeine (1000 mg/130 mg) in treatment of acute migraine, a structured literature search was performed using the PubMed database by a panel of experts from major Italian headache centers; articles not referring to migraine pain were excluded from this review; review articles were prioritized.

RESULTS

Overall response, even to newer specific and selective trigeminal targeted drugs (TTTs), is not over 60%; thus, there is still room for conventional therapies in acute migraine treatment. The panel identified settings in which the use of paracetamol/caffeine combination to treat acute migraine attacks might offer benefit considering the consolidated use through years, despite the lack of studies directly addressing the efficacy of paracetamol/caffeine in the identified populations: subjects > 65 years of age; presence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities; TTTs non-responders; pregnancy and breastfeeding; subjects < 18 years of age; paracetamol/caffeine as add-on therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Paracetamol is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list and has a high level of popularity among patients. Caffeine enhances the analgesic effect of other drugs including paracetamol. In early treatment of acute migraine pain, prescribing physicians might consider using the paracetamol/caffeine combination among other options.

Annual indirect costs savings in patients with episodic or chronic migraine: a post-hoc analysis of phase 3 galcanezumab clinical trials in the United States

BACKGROUND

Galcanezumab (GMB) improved quality-of-life and reduced disability of patients with episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) in Phase 3 trials.

AIM

To estimate indirect cost savings associated with GMB treatment in patients with migraine in the United States (US).

METHODS

We analyzed data of patients from the US from three randomized, Phase 3, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled GMB studies: EVOLVE-1 and EVOLVE-2 (EM patients), REGAIN (CM patients). Annual indirect costs were calculated using items of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire: lost time/productivity at work/school, household work, and leisure time. All costs were annualized and expressed in 2019 US dollars. While the main analysis considered lost time/productivity at work/school and household work as a full day, a sensitivity analysis was performed by discounting them by half. For EM, annual indirect costs savings were estimated using mixed model repeated measures analysis. For CM, ANCOVA models were used to estimate annual indirect costs savings as change from baseline.

RESULTS

The analysis included 805 patients with EM (mean age = 41.4 years; PBO = 534; GMB = 271) and 423 patients with CM (mean age = 38.9 years; PBO = 279; GMB = 144). Compared to PBO, GMB significantly reduced annual indirect costs among patients with EM at 3 months (least square mean [95% confidence interval] work/school = $1,883.6 [603.64-3,163.65], p = .0040, household work = $628.9 [352.95-904.88], p <.0001, and leisure activity = $499.17 [42.36-955.98], p = .0323) and 6 months (work/school = $2,382.29 [1,065.48-3,699.10], p = .0004, household work = $559.45 [268.99-849.90], p = .0002, and leisure activity = $753.81 [334.35-1,173.27], p = .0004), whereas a significant difference was not observed among patients with CM. Sensitivity analysis results were similar to primary analysis results.

CONCLUSIONS

GMB treatment versus PBO resulted in significantly greater indirect cost savings in patients with EM through improved productivity at work/school, household work, and leisure days. Patients with CM receiving GMB versus PBO attained greater cost savings, although not statistically significant, through reduced lost productivity at work/school.

Trends in utilization and costs of migraine medications, 2017–2020

Objective

This study examines changes in utilization and costs trends associated with migraine medications.

Background

Migraine attacks are a burden to many patients. There are many pharmacotherapy options available with newer migraine drug classes entering the market in the past decade. Little is known about the use, associated costs, and the impact of the newer agents.

Methods

This retrospective, cross-sectional study examined 2017–2020 administrative claims from a large national pharmacy benefits manager. Patients aged ≥ 18 years enrolled in commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance exchange insurance plans who filled ≥ 2 prescription claims for triptans, ergotamines, isometheptenes, gepants, ditans, and CGRP mABs were included. A two-sample t-test was conducted to estimate whether differences in mean utilization and costs between 2017 and 2020 were statistically significant for migraine drug classes, except for CGRP mABs, which were estimated between 2018 and 2020.

Results

The sample ranged from 161,369 (2017) to 240,330 (2020) patients. 84.5% (n = 203,110; 2020) of patients were women. The number of 30-day adjusted prescription fills for prophylaxis remained stable over the four-year period, except for CGRP mABs, which increased from 0.5% (n = 0.007; 2018) to 5.3% (n = 0.075; 2020). Antiepileptics, antidepressants and beta blockers were the most common prophylaxes, while triptans, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/non-narcotic analgesics and opioids were the most common treatments utilized. CGRP mABs were the most expensive, while utilization of triptans were the highest. CGRP mABs had the largest increase in utilization (177.5%) and costs (166.3%) PPPM in 2020 ($291.17) compared to 2018 ($109.35), the year they were first available (p < 0.001). Between 2018 and 2020, costs increased overall and for commercial and Medicare enrollees, but remained unchanged for Medicaid and HIX members.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates a shift in migraine medication utilization from 2017–2020, where increased use of CGRP mABs had a significant contribution to increased costs. These increased pharmacy costs must be weighed against the improved tolerability of these agents likely resulting in other healthcare and indirect cost savings.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-022-01476-y.

The impact of migraine and probable migraine on productivity loss in Korea: A cross-sectional online survey

Migraine is an enormous burden on society, but relevant studies are limited. The population of interest of this study was migraine or probable migraine (PM) in Korea. In this population, we aimed to assess the productivity loss through the level of severity defined by monthly migraine days (MMD) and analgesic frequency and to estimate costs and associated factors of productivity loss. We conducted an online survey of adults with migraine symptoms. We defined migraine and PM using the modified International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition. Severity level was defined by subgroups of MMD (0-3, 4-14, and ≥15 days) and analgesic frequency (0, 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 per week). Productivity loss was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire and consisted of absenteeism, presenteeism, overall work productivity loss, and activity impairment. The costs of productivity loss due to absenteeism and presenteeism were calculated in 2020 USD. We used negative binomial regression to identify the factors associated with the costs of productivity loss. We identified 362 respondents with migraine or PM. Mean age was 41.7 years, 75.7% were female (N = 274), and 73.2% (N = 265) were employed. On average, productivity losses due to absenteeism and presenteeism were 8.1% and 39.7%, respectively. As MMD increased, there was a trend toward increased activity impairment, presenteeism, and overall work productivity loss. The mean overall productivity loss cost was USD 44.61 per person per day. Duration of migraine attacks was significantly associated with higher absenteeism costs. The results of this study indicate that the higher the MMD, the greater the productivity loss in patients with migraine or PM in Korea. We also found that patients with low-frequency migraine and PM experienced substantial productivity loss. This study provides comprehensive evidence of the burden of migraine in Korea using a representative sample.

Managing of Migraine in the Workplaces: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Italian Occupational Physicians

Background and Objectives: Migraine is a debilitating disorder, whose incidence peak in the age group of 30-39 years overlaps with the peak of employment years, potentially representing a significant issue for occupational physicians (OP). The present study was performed in order to characterize their knowledge, attitudes and practices on migraine in the workplaces. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 242 Italian OP (mean age 47.8 ± 8.8 years, males 67.4%) participated in an internet-based survey by completing a structured questionnaire. Results: Adequate general knowledge of migraine was found in the majority of participants. Migraine was identified as a common and severe disorder by the majority of respondents (54.0% and 60.0%). Overall, 61.2% of participants acknowledged migraine as difficult to manage in the workplace, a status that made it more likely for OP understanding its potential frequency (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.672, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.526-8.831), or reported previous managing of complicated cases requiring conditional fitness to work judgement (OR 4.761, 95%CI 1.781-2.726). Moreover, professionals with a qualification in occupational medicine (OR 20.326, 95%CI 2.642-156.358), acknowledging the difficult managing of migraine in the workplaces (OR 2.715, 95%CI 1.034-7.128) and having received any request of medical surveillance for migraine (OR 22.878, 95%CI 4.816-108.683), were more likely to recommend specific requirements for migraineur workers. Conclusions: Migraine was recognized as a common disorder, but also as a challenging clinical problem for OP. Participating OP exhibited a substantial understanding of migraine and its triggers, but residual false beliefs and common misunderstanding may impair the proper management of this disorder, requiring improved and specifically targeted interventions.

Novel Migraine Therapies May Reduce Public and Personal Disadvantages for People with Migraine

The introduction of new drug classes for migraine, such as monoclonal antibodies that target the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor and small-molecule antagonists of CGRP, have opened a new scenario in a large population of individuals suffering from migraines. The provision of an effective and safe therapy can help overcome the high social and personal costs together with the burden of this disease by offering social, work and economic recovery to the people affected by migraine. Whether the satisfaction of personal and collective unmet needs will be achieved in the vast majority of migraine sufferers now depends only on the efficiency of the organizational care structures dedicated to this socially impactful disease. This path will offer personal benefits and significant psychosocial relief that will help to reduce the enormous current healthcare expenditure necessary for the management of the huge number of individuals suffering from migraines. The new pharmacological classes for prevention must be applied as an interdiction to the chronic phase to express their full rehabilitation potential.

Reductions in acute medication use and healthcare resource utilization in patients with chronic migraine: a secondary analysis of a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of galcanezumab with open-label extension (REGAIN)

AIMS

To analyze secondary objectives of the REGAIN study related to acute headache medication use and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with chronic migraine treated with galcanezumab, a monoclonal antibody to calcitonin gene-related peptide.

METHODS

Adults with chronic migraine (N = 1,113) were randomized (2:1:1) and treated with double-blind monthly injections of placebo, galcanezumab-120 mg, or galcanenzumab-240 mg for 3 months, followed by a 9-month open-label extension with 120 or 240 mg/month galcanezumab. Headache and medication information was collected by daily eDiary. HCRU was reported for the 6 months before randomization, monthly thereafter, and converted to rate per 100-patient-years.

RESULTS

At baseline, 63-64% of patients met criteria for acute headache medication overuse. At Month 3, incidence of headache medication overuse in the galcanezumab groups (33% and 33%) was significantly lower than in the placebo group (46%, both p < .001) and was 16% and 23% in the previous-galcanezumab groups at Month 12. From a baseline of 14.5 to 15.5, reduction in mean number of monthly migraine headache days with acute headache medication use was also significantly greater in the galcanezumab groups at Month 3 (-4.2 and -4.9) than in placebo (-2.6, both p < .001), with reductions of -6.8 and -7.6 in the previous-galcanezumab groups at Month 12. Migraine-specific HCRU rates decreased for all groups, with no significant between-group differences at Month 3. At Month 12, in the two previous-galcanezumab groups, emergency room visits decreased by 58% and 75%, hospital admissions by 100%, and healthcare professional visits by 54% and 67%.

LIMITATIONS

Only 3 months of double-blind, placebo-controlled data, a longer HCRU recall period for baseline than postbaseline, and patients receiving care in the clinical trial itself, may limit generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with galcanezumab resulted in significant reductions in headache medication overuse and migraine headache days requiring acute medication use, with notable reductions in migraine-specific HCRU.

Annual indirect cost savings in patients with episodic or chronic migraine: post-hoc analyses from multiple galcanezumab clinical trials

AIM

This post-hoc analysis estimated annual indirect cost savings with galcanezumab (GMB) treatment in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM).

METHODS

Data from 4 randomized, Phase 3, double-blind (DB), placebo (PBO)-controlled studies of GMB were analyzed: EVOLVE-1 and EVOLVE-2 (EM, 6-months DB), REGAIN (CM, 3-months DB), and CONQUER (previous failure of 2-4 migraine preventive medication categories, 3-months DB). Indirect costs were calculated at baseline and Month 3 using the first 2 items in Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS): (A + B)/60*country specific annual wage (A = days of missed work/school; B = days of reduced productivity at work/school; assuming 60 working days in 3 months). All costs were annualized and expressed in international dollars (Int$) in 2018. ANCOVA models estimated the indirect cost savings as a change from baseline. Secondary analyses determined cost savings by employment and responder status.

RESULTS

Patients (>80% females) from EVOLVE-1 and -2 (n = 1,201; mean age 41.9 years), REGAIN (n = 759; mean age 41.3 years), and CONQUER (n = 453; mean age ∼46.0 years) were analyzed. GMB showed significant indirect cost savings for EM (Int$6256, p < .0001) and CM (Int$7129, p = .0002), with substantial savings for patients with previous failure of 2-4 migraine preventive medication categories (EM: Int$5664, p = .0030; CM: Int$5181, p = .1300). Compared with PBO, GMB showed significantly greater indirect cost savings for EM (p = .0156) and patients with previous failure of 2-4 migraine preventive medication categories (p = .0340). Employed patients with CM (p = .0018) and with previous failure of 2-4 migraine preventive medication categories (p < .0001) had significant cost savings after GMB treatment. GMB showed significant indirect cost savings in patients with a reduction in migraine headache days.

CONCLUSION

GMB treatment resulted in annual indirect cost savings in patients with EM, CM, and with previous failure of 2-4 migraine preventive medication categories, with similar observations in the sensitivity analyses.