Cost of health care among patients with chronic and episodic migraine in Canada and the USA: results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS)

Clinical factors associated with day-to-day peak pain severity in individuals with chronic migraine: A cohort study using daily prospective diary data

OBJECTIVE

To describe the association between day-to-day peak pain severity and clinical factors in individuals with chronic migraine (CM).

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how clinical factors relate to day-to-day pain severity in individuals with CM.

METHODS

Adults with CM were enrolled into this observational prospective cohort study that collected daily data about headache, associated symptoms, and lifestyle factors using a digital health platform (N1-Headache™) for 90 days. "Migraine days" were defined as days in which a headache occurred that had features described by the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria. On these days, peak pain severity was recorded on a 4-point scale; on non-headache days peak pain severity was imputed as "0/none". The associations between peak pain severity and 12 clinical factors were modeled and adjusted for sex, age, daily headache, presence of menstrual bleeding, day of the week, and disability. All numerical and Likert scale variables were standardized prior to analysis.

RESULTS

Data were available for 392 participants (35,280 tracked days). The sample was predominantly female (90.6%), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 39.9 (12.8) years. In the final multivariable model with random intercept and slopes, higher than typical self-reported levels of standardized stress (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.11), standardized irritability (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08), standardized sadness (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07), fatigue (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15-1.36), eyestrain (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.26-1.52), neck pain (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.76-2.13), skin sensitivity (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.44-1.80), and dehydration (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18-1.42) were associated with higher reported peak pain severity levels, while standardized sleep quality (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99) and standardized waking feeling refreshed (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.81-0.88) were associated with lower reported peak pain severity levels. The inclusion of a random intercept and random slopes improved upon more parsimonious models and illustrated large differences in individuals' reporting of peak severity according to the levels of the associated clinical factors.

CONCLUSION

Our data showed that the experience of CM, from a pain severity perspective, is complex, related to multiple clinical variables, and highly individualized. These results suggest that future work should aim to study a personalized approach to both medical and behavioral interventions for CM based on which clinical factors relate to the individual's experience of pain severity.

A 3-year follow-up study of outcomes associated with patterns of traditional acute and preventive migraine treatment: An administrative claims-based cohort study in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To describe treatment patterns and direct healthcare costs over 3 years following initiation of standard of care acute and preventive migraine medications in patients with migraine in the United States.

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on long-term (>1 year) migraine treatments patterns and associated outcomes.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study using US claims data from the IBM® MarketScan® Research Database (January 2010-December 2017). Adults were included if they had a prescription claim for acute migraine treatments (AMT) or preventive migraine treatments (PMT) in the index period (January 2011-December 2014). The AMT cohort was categorized as persistent, cycled, or added-on subgroups; the PMT cohort was categorized PMT-persistent, switched without gaps, or cycled with gaps. Migraine-specific annual direct costs (2017 US$) across AMT and PMT cohort subgroups were summarized at baseline through 3 years from index (follow-up).

RESULTS

During the index period, 20,778 and 42,259 patients initiated an AMT and a PMT, respectively. At the 3-year follow-up, migraine-specific direct costs were lower in the persistent subgroup relative to the non-persistent subgroups in both AMT (mean [SD]: $789 [$1741] vs. $2847 [$8149] in the added-on subgroup and $862 [$5426] for the cycled subgroup) and PMT cohorts (mean [SD]: $1817 [$5892] in the persistent subgroup vs. $4257 [$11,392] in the switched without gaps subgroup and $3269 [$18,540] in the cycled with gaps subgroup). Acute medication overuse was lower in the persistent subgroup (1025/6504 [27.2%]) vs. non-persistent subgroups (11,236/58,863 [32.2%] in cycled with gaps subgroup and 1431/6504 [39.4%] in the switched without gaps subgroup). Most patients used multiple acute (19,717/20,778 [94.9%]) or preventive (38,494/42,259 [91.1%]) pharmacological therapies over 3 years following treatment initiation. Gaps in preventive therapy were common; an average gap ranged from 85 to 211 days (~3-7 months).

CONCLUSION

Migraine-specific annual healthcare costs and acute migraine medication overuse remained lowest among patients with persistent AMT and PMT versus non-persistent treatment. Study findings are limited to the US population. Future studies should compare costs and associated outcomes between newer preventive migraine medications in patients with migraine.

The effect of greater occipital nerve block on amplification of somatic symptoms and anxiety and depression levels in chronic migraine

OBJECTIVES

It is known that chronic migraine (CM) is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic complaints. We designed this study with the assumption that greater occipital nerve (GON) block treatment could potentially improve not only pain symptoms but also psychosomatic complaints. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the visual analog scale (VAS), somatosensory amplification scale (SSAS), beck depression ınventory (BDI), and beck anxiety ınventory (BAI) with GON block treatment in patients with CM.

METHODS

This study was conducted retrospectively on 164 patients with CM between December 2018 and January 2023. Patients underwent six sessions of GON block treatment at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. VAS, SSAS, BAI, and BDI scores; number of attacks per month (NAM); attack pain duration (APD); and monthly use of analgesics (UA) were compared before the start and at week 8 of GON block treatment.

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 38 ± 9 years. Statistical analysis revealed that VAS, SSAS, BAI, and BDI scores; NAM; APD; and monthly UA were statistically significantly lower following GON block treatment than before GON block treatment (p < 0.001 each).

CONCLUSION

GON block treatment was effective for pain and somatic complaints (amplification of physical symptoms), anxiety, and depressive symptoms accompanying CM in patients with CM.

Arterial hypertension in the chronic evolution of migraine: bystander or risk factor? An overview

BACKGROUND

Several risk factors are associated with the chronic evolution of migraine. Clinical and preclinical studies have provided data about the role of hypertension (HT) as one of the potential modifiable risk factors of chronic migraine (CM). This review is focused on the biological and clinical evidence supporting common mechanisms underlying HT and migraine and the potential role of HT in the transition from episodic to chronic migraine.

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review from a literature search covering the available evidence from studies investigating: i) the role of HT in the transition to CM in clinical practice; ii) the biological mechanisms potentially underpinning the association between HT and evolution to CM; iii) the role of antihypertensive medications in migraine prophylaxis.

RESULTS

HT proved to be at the base of multiple mechanisms underlying migraine and migraine chronicization. Endothelial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier alterations, calcitonin gene-related peptide signaling, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system dysregulation are involved in the worsening effect of HT on migraine frequency, and the role of HT in the transition to CM is supported by clinical observations.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed evidence supports HT contribution to CM evolution due to shared pathophysiologic mechanisms. While a bidirectional influence appears to be ascertained, data are still lacking about the one-way role of HT as direct risk factor for CM transition. Further research is needed to confirm a causal role of HT in this process.

Health equity, care access and quality in headache - part 1

Current definitions of migraine that are based mainly on clinical characteristics do not account for other patient's features such as those related to an impaired quality of life, due to loss of social life and productivity, and the differences related to the geographical distribution of the disease and cultural misconceptions which tend to underestimate migraine as a psychosocial rather than neurobiological disorder.Global differences definition, care access, and health equity for headache disorders, especially migraine are reported in this paper from a collaborative group of the editorial board members of the Journal of Headache and Pain. Other components that affect patients with migraine, in addition to the impact promoted by the migraine symptoms such as stigma and social determinants, are also reported.

Migraine Treatment and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Alberta, Canada

BACKGROUND

Migraine poses a significant burden worldwide; however, there is limited evidence as to the burden in Canada. This study examined the treatment patterns, healthcare resource use (HRU), and costs among newly diagnosed or recurrent patients with migraine in Alberta, Canada, from the time of diagnosis or recurrence.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study utilized administrative health data from Alberta, Canada. Patients were included in the Total Migraine Cohort if they had: (1) ≥1 International Classification of Diseases diagnostic code for migraine; or (2) ≥1 prescription dispense(s) for triptans from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2018, with no previous diagnosis or dispensation code from April 1, 2010, to April 1, 2012.

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort (n = 199,931) was 40.0 years and 72.3% were women. The most common comorbidity was depression (19.7%). In each medication class examined, less than one-third of the cohort was prescribed triptans and fewer than one-fifth was prescribed a preventive. Among patients with ≥1 dispense, the mean rate of opioid prescriptions was 4.61 per patient-year, compared to 2.28 triptan prescriptions per patient-year. Migraine-related HRU accounted for 3%-10% of all use.

CONCLUSION

Comorbidities and high all-cause HRU were observed among newly diagnosed or recurrent patients with migraine. There is an underutilization of acute and preventive medications in the management of migraine. The high rate of opioid use reinforces the suboptimal management of migraine in Alberta. Migraine management may improve by educating healthcare professionals to optimize treatment strategies.

Burden of Episodic Migraine, Chronic Migraine, and Medication Overuse Headache in Alberta

OBJECTIVE

To describe demographic and clinical characteristics, healthcare resource use, costs, and treatment patterns in three migraine cohorts.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study using administrative data examined patients with episodic migraine (EM), chronic migraine (CM) (without medication overuse headache [MOH]), and medication overuse headache in Alberta, Canada. Migraine patients were identified between 2012 and 2018 based on ≥ 1 diagnostic codes or triptan prescription. Patients with CM were defined using parameter estimates of a logistic regression model, and MOH was defined as patients with an average of ≥ 15 supply days covered of acute medications. EM was defined as patients without CM or MOH. Study outcomes were summarized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Patients with EM (n = 144,574), CM (n = 27,283), and MOH (n = 11,485) were included. Higher rates of healthcare use and costs were observed for CM (mean [SD] all-cause cost: ($12,693 [40,664]) and MOH ($16,611.5 [$38,748]) versus episodic migraine ($4,251 [$40,637]). Across all cohorts, opioids were the most dispensed acute medication (range across cohorts: 31.7%-89.8%), while antidepressants and anticonvulsants were the most dispensed preventive medication. Preventative medication classes were used by a minority of patients in each cohort, except anticonvulsants, where 50% of medication overuse patients had a dispensation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CM and MOH have a greater burden of illness compared to patients with EM. The overutilization of acute medication, particularly opioids, and the underutilization of preventive medications highlight an unmet need to more effectively manage migraine.

Trajectory of health care resources among adults stopping or reducing treatment frequency of botulinum toxin for chronic migraine treatment in Alberta, Canada

OBJECTIVE

Understand health resource, medication use, and cost of adults with chronic migraine who received guideline-recommended onabotulinumtoxinA (botulinum toxin) treatment frequency and then continued or reduced/stopped.

BACKGROUND

Botulinum toxin may be a beneficial treatment for chronic migraine; the trajectory of health resources utilization among those with continued or reduced/stopped use is unclear.

METHODS

A retrospective population-based cohort study utilizing administrative data from Alberta, Canada (2012-2020), was performed. A cohort of adults who received ≥5 botulinum toxin treatment cycles for chronic migraine over 18 months (6-month run-in; 1-year pre-index period) were grouped into those who (1) continued use (≥3 treatments/year), or (2) stopped or reduced use (stopped for 6 months then received 0 or 1-2 treatments/year, respectively) over a 1-year post-index period. Health resources and medication use were described, and pre-post costs were assessed. A second cohort that received ≥3 treatments/year immediately followed by 1 year of stopped or reduced use was considered in sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Pre-post health resource, medication use, and costs were similar among those with continued use (n = 3336). Among those who stopped or reduced use (n = 1099; 756 stopped, 343 reduced), health resource, medication use, and costs were lower in the post- (total median per-person cost [IQR]: all-cause $4851 [$8090]; migraine-related $835 [$1915]) versus pre- (all-cause $6096 [$7207]; migraine-related $2995 [$1950]) index period (estimated cost ratios [95% CI]: total all-cause 0.86 [0.79, 0.95]; total migraine-related 0.44 [0.40, 0.48]). In the second cohort (n = 3763), return to continued use (≥3 treatments/year) occurred in up to 70.4% in those with reduced use.

CONCLUSIONS

Of adults treated with botulinum toxin for chronic migraine, 75.2% had continued use, stable health resource and medication use, and costs over a 2 year period. In those that stopped/reduced use, the observed lower health resource and migraine medication use may indicate improved symptom control, but the resumption of guideline-recommended treatment intervals after reduced use was common.

Real-world persistence and costs among patients with chronic migraine treated with onabotulinumtoxinA or calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies

BACKGROUND: Chronic migraine (CM) is a common neurologic disorder that imposes substantial burden on payers, patients, and society. Low rates of persistence to oral migraine preventive medications have been previously documented; however, less is known about persistence and costs associated with innovative nonoral migraine preventive medications. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate real-world persistence and costs among adults with CM treated with onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA) or calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs). METHODS: This was a retrospective, longitudinal, observational study analyzing the IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare databases. The study sample included adults with CM initiating treatment with either onabotA or a CGRP mAb on or after January 1, 2018. Persistence and costs over 12 months after treatment initiation were evaluated using chi-square and Student's t-tests. Persistence to onabotA was compared with CGRP mAbs as a weighted average of the class and by individual CGRP mAbs. Mean pharmacy (acute and preventive), medical (inpatient, emergency department, and outpatient), and total costs are reported. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to generate adjusted estimates of persistence and costs after controlling for potential confounders (age, sex, region, insurance type, number of baseline comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and number of previously used oral migraine preventive medications). RESULTS: Of 66,303 individuals with onabotA or CGRP mAb claims, 2,697 with CM met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In the total population, individuals were primarily female (85.5%), lived in the South (48.5%), and had a mean (SD) age of 44 (12) years, which was consistent across the onabotA and CGRP mAb cohorts. Common comorbid conditions included anxiety (23.9%), depression (18.2%), hypertension (16.5%), and sleep disorders (16.9%). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, persistence to onabotA during the 12-month follow-up period was 40.7% vs 27.8% for CGRP mAbs (odds ratio [OR] = 0.683; 95% CI = 0.604-0.768; P < 0.0001). Persistence to erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab was 25.5% (OR = 0.627; 95% CI = 0.541-0.722; P < 0.0001), 30.3% (OR = 0.746; 95% CI = 0.598-0.912; P = 0.0033), and 33.7% (OR = 0.828; 95% CI = 0.667-1.006; P = 0.058). All-cause ($18,292 vs $18,275; P = 0.9739) and migraine-related ($8,990 vs $9,341; P = 0.1374) costs were comparable between the onabotA and CGRP mAb groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with CM receiving onabotA and CGRP mAbs, individuals initiating onabotA treatment had higher persistence compared with those receiving CGRP mAbs. Total all-cause and migraine-related costs over 12 months were comparable between those receiving onabotA and CGRP mAbs. DISCLOSURES: This study was sponsored by Allergan (prior to its acquisition by AbbVie), they contributed to the design and interpretation of data and the writing, reviewing, and approval of final version. Writing and editorial assistance was provided to the authors by Dennis Stancavish, MS, of Peloton Advantage, LLC, an OPEN Health company, Parsippany, NJ, and was funded by AbbVie. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors. The authors received no honorarium/fee or other form of financial support related to the development of this article. Dr Schwedt serves on the Board of Directors for the American Headache Society and the American Migraine Foundation. Within the prior 12 months he has received research support from Amgen, Henry Jackson Foundation, Mayo Clinic, National Institutes of Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, SPARK Neuro, and US Department of Defense. Within the past 12 months, he has received personal compensation for serving as a consultant or advisory board member for AbbVie, Allergan, Axsome, BioDelivery Science, Biohaven, Collegium, Eli Lilly, Ipsen, Linpharma, Lundbeck, and Satsuma. He holds stock options in Aural Analytics and Nocira. He has received royalties from UpToDate. Dr Lee and Ms Shah are employees of AbbVie and may hold AbbVie stock. Dr Gillard was an employee of AbbVie and may hold AbbVie stock. Dr Knievel has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, and Biohaven; conducted research for AbbVie, Amgen, and Eli Lilly; and is on speaker programs for AbbVie and Amgen. Dr McVige has served as a speaker and/or received research support from Allergan (now AbbVie Inc.), Alder, Amgen/Novartis, Avanir, Biohaven, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, and Teva. Ms Wang and Ms Wu are employees of Genesis Research, which provides consulting services to AbbVie. Dr Blumenfeld, within the past 12 months, has served on advisory boards for Allergan, AbbVie, Aeon, Alder, Amgen, Axsome, BDSI, Biohaven, Impel, Lundbeck, Lilly, Novartis, Revance, Teva, Theranica, and Zosano; as a speaker for Allergan, AbbVie, Amgen, BDSI, Biohaven, Lundbeck, Lilly, and Teva; as a consultant for Allergan, AbbVie, Alder, Amgen, Biohaven, Lilly, Lundbeck, Novartis, Teva, and Theranica; and as a contributing author for Allergan, AbbVie, Amgen, Biohaven, Novartis, Lilly, and Teva. He has received grant support from AbbVie and Amgen. AbbVie is committed to responsible data sharing regarding the clinical trials we sponsor. This includes access to anonymized, individual, and trial-level data (analysis data sets), as well as other information (eg, protocols, clinical study reports, or analysis plans), as long as the trials are not part of an ongoing or planned regulatory submission. This includes requests for clinical trial data for unlicensed products and indications. These clinical trial data can be requested by any qualified researchers who engage in rigorous, independent scientific research, and will be provided following review and approval of a research proposal and Statistical Analysis Plan and execution of a Data Sharing Agreement. Data requests can be submitted at any time after approval in the United States and Europe and after acceptance of this manuscript for publication. The data will be accessible for 12 months, with possible extensions considered. For more information on the process, or to submit a request, visit the following link: https://www.abbvieclinicaltrials.com/hcp/data-sharing/.

Economic burden of chronic migraine in OECD countries: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Chronic migraine (CM) is a significant neurological condition affecting a substantial portion of the global population. The economic burden of CM includes both direct healthcare costs and indirect costs resulting from productivity losses and intangible impacts on patients' quality of life. However, there is limited research that comprehensively evaluates all cost components associated with CM, highlighting the need for a systematic review.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search in databases including MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL to identify studies estimating the cost of illness of chronic migraines. The search was restricted to English language articles published from inception to October 2021, and only findings from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries were included. Methodology features and key findings were extracted from the studies, and reported costs were converted to GBP for cross-country comparisons.

RESULTS

Thirteen cost-of-illness studies on CM from various OECD countries were included in this review. The studies demonstrated substantial variations in monetary estimates, but consistently highlighted the considerable economic burden of CM. Direct costs, particularly hospitalisation and medication expenses, were identified as the highest contributors. However, indirect costs, such as productivity losses due to absenteeism and presenteeism, were often underexplored in the reviewed studies. Additionally, intangible costs related to emotional and social impacts on patients were largely overlooked.

CONCLUSION

Chronic migraine imposes a significant economic burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and society. Policymakers and healthcare stakeholders should consider both direct and indirect cost components, as well as intangible costs, in developing targeted strategies for effective CM management and resource allocation. Further research focusing on comprehensive cost assessments and sensitivity analyses is needed to enhance the understanding of CM's economic implications and inform evidence-based healthcare policy decisions. Addressing these research gaps can alleviate the economic burden of CM and improve patient outcomes.

Sex-related differences in migraine clinical features by frequency of occurrence: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The sex-related differences of migraine hold clinical relevance to achieve a better diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate sex-related differences in migraine features, the impact, and health care resources for people who suffer from episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM).

METHODS

184 patients (72 % women; 61.4 % with EM; mean (SD) age of 38.7 (10.4) years) were assessed through the Migraine Disability Assessment, the Short Form 36 Health Survey, the Beck Depression Inventory II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Additionally, medication intake and medical assistance were recorded. Multivariate analyses were performed, stratifying by frequency of occurrence (EM and CM) and sex (men and women).

RESULTS

The results showed that women presented a greater number of symptoms (p=0.03), pain intensity (p<0.01), pain duration (p=0.03), disability (p=0.01), amount of symptomatic medication (p=0.04) and medical visits (p=0.001), as well as a worse physical role (p=0.004) than men with EM. However, no significant differences between them were found for CM (p>0.05). Moreover, it was identified that there was a significant increase in medication intake among people with CM compared to EM (p<0.001). It is worth noting that there were no significant differences by diagnosis and sex in emotional status (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine features, impact and health care resources were greater in women than men with EM; yet no significant differences between them were found for CM. The findings of the present study may contribute to a better diagnosis and treatment response in people with migraines.

A systematic review of the efficacy of ketamine for craniofacial pain

Background

Craniofacial pain (CFP) poses a burden on patients and health care systems. It is hypothesized that ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, can reverse central sensitization associated with causation and propagation of CFP. This systematic review aims to assess the role of ketamine for CFP.

Methods

Databases were searched for studies published up to September 26, 2022, investigating the efficacy of ketamine for adults with CFP. Primary outcome was the change in pain intensity at 60 min postintervention. Two reviewers screened and extracted data. Registration with PROSPERO was performed (CRD42020178649).

Results

Twenty papers (six randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 14 observational studies) including 670 patients were identified. Substantial heterogeneity in terms of study design, population, dose, route of administration, treatment duration, and follow-up was noted. Bolus dose ranged from 0.2-0.3 mg/kg (intravenous) to 0.4 mg/kg (intramuscular) to 0.25-0.75 mg/kg (intranasal). Ketamine infusions (0.1-1 mg/kg/h) were given over various durations. Follow-up was short in RCTs (from 60 min to 72 h) but longer in observational studies (up to 18 months). Ketamine by bolus treatment failed to reduce migraine intensity but had an effect by reducing intensity of aura, cluster headache (CH), and trigeminal neuralgia. Prolonged ketamine infusions showed sustainable reduction of migraine intensity and frequency of CH attacks, but the quality of the evidence is low.

Conclusion

Current evidence remains conflicting on the efficacy of ketamine for CFP owing to low quality and heterogeneity across studies. Ketamine infusions are suggested to provide sustained improvement, possibly because of prolonged duration and higher dosage of administration. RCTs should focus on the dose-response relationship of prolonged ketamine infusions on CFP.

Fremanezumab for Chronic Migraine Prevention in Japanese Patients: Subgroup Analysis from Two International Trials

Purpose

Fremanezumab monoclonal antibody therapy has demonstrated efficacy for chronic migraine (CM) with rapid onset and good tolerability. This subgroup analysis of two clinical trials (Japanese and Korean CM Phase 2b/3 [NCT03303079] and HALO CM Phase 3 [NCT02621931]) aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fremanezumab in Japanese patients.

Patients and Methods

Both trials randomly assigned eligible patients at baseline (1:1:1 ratio) to subcutaneous monthly fremanezumab, quarterly fremanezumab, or placebo at 4-week intervals. The primary endpoint was the mean change from baseline in the monthly (28-day) average number of headache days of at least moderate severity during the 12-week period after the first dose of study medication (analyzed by ANCOVA over 12 weeks and MMRM over initial 4 weeks). Secondary endpoints examined other aspects of efficacy, including medication use and disability.

Results

A total of 479 and 109 patients were Japanese in the Japanese and Korean CM Phase 2b/3 and HALO CM trials, respectively. Baseline and treatment characteristics were generally similar between treatment groups for both trials. Results of subgroup analyses for the primary endpoint according to ANCOVA demonstrated the superiority of fremanezumab over placebo in Japanese patients (quarterly fremanezumab, p=0.0005; monthly fremanezumab, p=0.0002 in both trials). Results using the MMRM analysis confirmed the rapid onset of action in this population. Results of the secondary endpoints further supported the efficacy of fremanezumab in Japanese patients. Fremanezumab was well tolerated with nasopharyngitis and injection-site reactions representing the most common adverse events in all treatment groups.

Conclusion

Despite the limitations of subgroup analyses, these consistent results confirm the efficacy and tolerability of fremanezumab in Japanese patients with CM.

Non-opioid Intravenous Drugs for Pain Management in Patients Presenting with Acute Migraine Pain in the Emergency Department: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Context

Migraine is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide and the sixth cause of loss of life years due to disability. Migraine is reported mainly in young and middle-aged people, so it can cause a person to face many problems in doing daily tasks. The emergency department annually accepts 1.2 million patients with migraine. Therefore, timely diagnosis of the disease, knowledge of valuable drugs in an emergency, knowing how to use them, and finally, early treatment can play an essential and decisive role in improving patients' symptoms and reducing the disability caused by the disease. An essential and valuable drug category in the emergency department to manage pain is non-opioid intravenous (IV) drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate non-opioid IV drugs to manage pain in patients with acute migraines in the emergency department.

Method

This study conducted a comprehensive literature review to access the latest scientific studies and documents using keywords (acute migraine, non-opioid IV drugs, pain management) in reliable databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. We reviewed 87 articles, 53 of which were evaluated and compared.

Results

A review study considers intravenous acetaminophen as a suitable option for the first-line treatment of acute migraine in the emergency department if the patient does not tolerate aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Various studies have obtained positive effects of NSAIDs and dihydroergotamine (DHE) in treating acute migraine. Prescribing anti-dopaminergic drugs can effectively reduce associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Dexamethasone and magnesium sulfate are effective in preventing migraine and severe attacks. Intravenous sodium valproate is effective in moderate to severe migraine attacks or treatment-resistant migraines. In the emergency department, prescribing intravenous haloperidol, lidocaine, and propofol can help manage migraine and improve other associated symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting.

Conclusions

Non-opioid IV drugs are essential to manage pain and improve other migraine symptoms in the emergency setting. Knowing the above drugs and their optimal use has a decisive role in managing patients with acute migraine in the emergency department.

Epidemiology and treatment utilization for Canadian patients with migraine: a literature review

The objective of this narrative review was to identify real-world evidence regarding the burden of migraine in Canada. We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for studies published between August 2010 and August 2020. Of the 3269 publications identified, 29 studies were included. Prevalence estimates varied widely across Canada, and mental health comorbidities were common. Individuals with migraine have a lower quality of life, detrimental impact on workforce productivity, and higher rates of health care resource utilization (HCRU), with HCRU and costs highest among those with chronic migraine. We found inconsistencies in care, including underutilization of medications such as triptans, and varied utilization of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Increased medication use was identified among those with chronic migraine, and only a small number of patients used migraine preventive medications. The burden of migraine in Canada is substantial. Reduced quality of life and workforce productivity, increased HCRU and costs, and underutilization of triptans and migraine preventive medications highlight an important need for more effective management of individuals with migraine.

Characteristics of migraine in patients with headache disorders: A clinic-based study from Central American and Caribbean countries

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to measure the proportion of patients who consulted for headache and of those who had a final diagnosis of migraine. We also assessed the proportion and characteristics of patients with migraine and the impact of migraine on the daily activities and the professional and social lives of patients visiting private/public medical centers in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND

Underdiagnosis of migraine is high in Central America and Caribbean urban communities. However, there is limited knowledge on characteristics of headache disorders for the appropriate classification of migraine, which is a prerequisite for targeted treatment. Hence, there is a need to improve migraine awareness among patients and medical professionals in this region.

METHODS

Central America and Caribbean countries epidemioLogy study of Migraine (CALM) was a non-interventional, cross-sectional, multinational study in adults aged 18-65 years with a history of or current headache. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with migraine visiting medical centers due to headache disorders. Using a specially designed migraine survey questionnaire, patients self-reported migraine characteristics, duration, and severity of attacks and impact on work and social life.

RESULTS

Of the 313 enrolled patients, 308 (98.4%) completed the study. Approximately 75.3% (232/308) of patients with headache visiting medical centers had migraine, with episodic migraine being the most common (193 [83.2%]). Overall, 34/308 (11.0%) patients had a new diagnosis of migraine. Among patients with migraine, 66 (28.4%) had a history of migraine for ≥20 years and 59 (25.4%) experienced severe pain. Overall, 52.2% (121/232) of patients reported that migraine affected their professional life and 78.4% (182/232) reported an impact on social life.

CONCLUSION

The CALM study establishes that a high proportion of patients with migraine had a long duration and high severity of migraine attacks, leading to a direct impact on work/social life as well as on costs incurred by patients in these countries.

Ultrasound-Guided Suprazygomatic Nerve Blocks to the Pterygopalatine Fossa: A Safe Procedure

OBJECTIVES

Large-scale procedural safety data on pterygopalatine fossa nerve blocks (PPFBs) performed via a suprazygomatic, ultrasound-guided approach are lacking, leading to hesitancy surrounding this technique. The aim of this study was to characterize the safety of PPFB.

METHODS

This retrospective chart review examined the records of adults who received an ultrasound-guided PPFB between January 1, 2016, and August 30, 2020, at the University of Florida. Indications included surgical procedures and nonsurgical pain. Clinical data describing PPFB were extracted from medical records. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables, and quantitative variables were analyzed with the paired t test to detect differences between before and after the procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 833 distinct PPFBs were performed on 411 subjects (59% female, mean age 48.5 years). Minor oozing from the injection site was the only reported side effect, in a single subject. Although systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were significantly different before and after the procedure (132.3 vs 136.4 mm Hg, P < 0.0001; 78.2 vs 80.8, P = 0.0003; and 97.8% vs 96.3%, P < 0.0001; respectively), mean arterial pressure and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly different (96.2 vs 97.1 mm Hg, P = 0.1545, and 78.2 vs 77.4 mm Hg, P = 0.1314, respectively). Similar results were found within subgroups, including subgroups by sex, race, and indication for PPFB.

DISCUSSION

We have not identified clinically significant adverse effects from PPFB performed with an ultrasound-guided suprazygomatic approach in a large cohort in the hospital setting. PPFBs are a safe and well-tolerated pain management strategy; however, prospective multicenter studies are needed.

Long-term reductions in disease impact in patients with chronic migraine following preventive treatment with eptinezumab

Background

Eptinezumab is an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide humanized monoclonal antibody approved for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. The PREVAIL study demonstrated a favorable safety profile with sustained reductions in overall migraine-related burden in patients with chronic migraine (CM). This post hoc analysis aimed to examine item-level changes in the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire over 2 years in participants with CM on eptinezumab treatment.

Methods

PREVAIL was an open-label, phase 3 trial that included 96 weeks of treatment where 128 adults received intravenous eptinezumab administered over 30 min every 12 weeks (wks) for up to 8 doses of 300 mg. MIDAS was administered at baseline, Wk12, and every 12wks thereafter. Two supplementary MIDAS items not included in the total score calculation assessed number of headache days in the past 3 months (MIDAS headache) and average headache pain severity (from 0 [none] to 10 [worst]). MIDAS total scores were summed from 5 items, each quantifying the number of days in the past 3 months with migraine-related disability. Items 1, 3, and 5 assessed absenteeism, namely how many days the patient missed work/school (Q1), household work (Q3), or family/social/leisure activities (Q5). Items 2 and 4 were measures of presenteeism, namely how many days the patient had reduced productivity in work/school (Q2) or household work (Q4).

Results

Mean MIDAS headache days decreased from 47.4 (baseline) to 17.1 (Wk12) and 16.3 (Wk104). The average headache pain severity score (0‒10) decreased from a mean of 7.3 (baseline) to 5.5 (Wk12) to 4.5 (Wk104). Mean MIDAS scores measuring absenteeism (Q1, 3, 5) changed from 9.7 days at baseline to 3.2 days (Wk12) and to 3.9 days (Wk104). Mean MIDAS scores measuring presenteeism (Q2, 4) at Wk12 decreased from 14.2 days at baseline to 5.2 days (Wk12, 104). Patients categorized with very severe MIDAS disability had a mean total MIDAS score of 84.8, with an average reduction of 56.7 days (Wk12), which was maintained at 32 days at Wk104.

Conclusions

Long-term treatment with eptinezumab in patients with CM suggested sustained reductions in MIDAS-quantified disability, consistent with the sustained reductions in headache frequency and pain severity.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02985398.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-022-02774-3.

Atogepant for the Prevention of Episodic Migraine in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety

Introduction

The inhibition of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway has attracted interest in pharmacological research on migraine. Atogepant is a potent, selective, orally available antagonist of the CGRP receptor approved as a preventive treatment of episodic migraine. This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atogepant for the prevention of episodic migraine in adult patients.

Methods

Randomized, placebo-controlled, single or double-blinded trials were identified through a systematic literature search (December week 4, 2021). Main outcomes included the changes from baseline in monthly migraine days and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and treatment withdrawal due to AEs. Mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated.

Results

Two trials were included, overall enrolling 1550 patients. A total of 408 participants were randomized to placebo, 314 to atogepant 10 mg, 411 to atogepant 30 mg, and 417 to atogepant 60 mg once daily. The mean age of the patients was 41.0 years and 87.7% were women. The reduction in the mean number of migraine days from baseline across the 12-week treatment period was significantly greater among patients treated with atogepant at either the daily dose of 10 mg (MD − 1.16, 95% CI − 1.60 to − 0.73, p < 0.001), 30 mg (MD − 1.15, 95% CI − 1.54 to − 0.76, p < 0.001), or 60 mg (MD − 1.20, 95% CI − 2.18 to − 0.22, p = 0.016) than with placebo. There were no differences in the occurrence of AEs and drug withdrawal due to AEs between atogepant and placebo groups. Constipation was more commonly observed in patients treated with atogepant at 30 mg/day than placebo (RR 5.19, 95% CI 2.00–13.46; p = 0.001). Treatment with atogepant at the daily dose of 60 mg was associated with a higher risk of constipation (RR 4.92, 95% CI 1.89–12.79; p = 0.001) and nausea (RR 2.73, 95% CI 1.47–5.06; p = 0.001) than placebo.

Conclusion

Atogepant is an efficacious and overall well-tolerated treatment for the prevention of episodic migraine in adults.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40120-022-00370-8.

Treatment of resistant chronic migraine with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Resistant chronic migraine is a highly disabling condition which is very difficult to treat. The majority of the treatments for migraine prophylaxis are nonspecific and present weak safety profiles, leading to low adherence and discontinuation. Currently, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the trigeminal sensory neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), are available for migraine prophylaxis being the first drugs developed specifically to target migraine pathogenesis. The main objective of the current work is to carry out a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that specifically analyse the effectivity and safety of anti-CGRP mAb, comparatively to placebo, in patients with resistant chronic migraine and possibly fill the literature gap or be a source of information to health professionals. Additionally the current knowledge on migraine, particularly resistant chronic migraine, was revisited and summarised.

METHODS

Literature search was carried out on MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct and ClinicalTrials.gov database, from inception to December 2021. Articles were selected according to prespecified criteria of inclusion and exclusion. Efficacy and safety outcomes included were: change from baseline in monthly migraine days (MMD); ≥50% reduction of MMD values from baseline; change from baseline in monthly acute migraine-specific medication days (MAMD); Migraine-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ); and registered adverse events. Additionally, we used the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) to assess the risk of bias of the included studies.

RESULTS

Four studies were included in this systematic review, involving 2811 resistant chronic migraine patients, 667 in a study using erenumab, 838 in a study using fremanezumab and 1306 in two studies using galcanezumab. When compared to placebo, all investigated anti-CGRP mAb and respective doses demonstrate effectiveness in decreasing MMD, reducing acute medication use and improving the MSQ scores, including, sometimes, reversion of chronic to episodic migraine (efficacy outcomes). Regarding the safety outcomes, the number and type of adverse events did not differ between anti-CGRP mAb-treated and placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-CGRP or anti-CGRP receptor monoclonal antibodies are a promising preventive migraine therapy which can be particularly useful for resistant chronic migraine patients.

OnabotulinumtoxinA Reduces Health Resource Utilization in Chronic Migraine: PREDICT Study

BACKGROUND

PREDICT was a Canadian, multicenter, prospective, observational study in adults naïve to onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for chronic migraine (CM). We descriptively assess health resource utilization, work productivity, and acute medication use.

METHODS

OnabotulinumtoxinA (155-195 U) was administered every 12 weeks over 2 years (≤7 treatment cycles). Participants completed a 4-item health resource utilization questionnaire and 6-item Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem V2.0. Acute medication use was recorded in daily headache diaries. Treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded throughout the study.

RESULTS

A total of 197 participants were enrolled, and 184 received ≥1 treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA and were included in the analysis. Between baseline and the final visit, there were decreases in the percentage of participants who reported headache-related healthcare professional visit(s) (96.2% to 76.8%) and those who received headache-related diagnostic testing (37.5% to 9.9%). Reductions from baseline were also observed in the mean number of headache-related visits to an emergency room/urgent care clinic (2.5 to 1.4) and median headache-related hospital admissions (4.0 to 1.0). OnabotulinumtoxinA improved work productivity and reduced the mean (standard deviation) number of hours missed from work over a 7-day period (6.1 [9.7] to 3.0 [6.8]). Mean (standard deviation) acute medication use decreased from baseline (15.2 [7.6] to 9.1 [6.5] days). No new safety signals were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world evidence from PREDICT demonstrates that onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for CM in the Canadian population reduces health resource utilization and acute medication use and improves workplace productivity, supporting the long-term benefits of using onabotulinumtoxinA for CM.

Practical Insights on the Identification and Management of Patients with Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine (CM) is one of the most disabling diseases, and it is commonly misdiagnosed and mistreated. Despite the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis for the effective management of CM, recent surveys have shown that only 20–25% of individuals with CM receive a correct diagnosis. The obvious consequences of misdiagnosed CM are prolongation of symptoms and their associated effects on disability and health-related quality of life. Additionally, mistreatment of CM can lead to acute medication overuse headache with escalation of headache and end organ damage. Ideally, a diagnosis of CM should be made in the primary care setting, based on a thorough medical history including detailed descriptions of headaches occurring earlier in life as well as current headaches, and the range of headaches (not just the worst headaches). In our experience, it is often equally informative to ask the patient about the number of headache-free days (HFDs) and no accompanying symptoms (i.e., crystal-clear days) to quantify headache days and accurately estimate headache frequency/impact. Headache frequency is important, as this count is one key means of diagnosing CM, which requires ≥ 15 headache days/month, noting that these do not need to be migraine days. A headache day is defined as more than 4 h a day of headache. Comorbidities are common in CM and may affect the treatment choice and increase disability. Every CM patient should be offered a preventive migraine treatment. In this commentary, we provide practical insights and tips for diagnosing CM and cover issues of medication overuse, patient communication, diagnostic testing, and when to make a referral. Our key message to physicians for a patient who comes to the clinic with frequent disabling headaches having features of migraine is to assume CM until proven otherwise.

Interneuronal dynamics facilitate the initiation of spike block in cortical microcircuits

Pyramidal cell spike block is a common occurrence in migraine with aura and epileptic seizures. In both cases, pyramidal cells experience hyperexcitation with rapidly increasing firing rates, major changes in electrochemistry, and ultimately spike block that temporarily terminates neuronal activity. In cortical spreading depression (CSD), spike block propagates as a slowly traveling wave of inactivity through cortical pyramidal cells, which is thought to precede migraine attacks with aura. In seizures, highly synchronized cortical activity can be interspersed with, or terminated by, spike block. While the identifying characteristic of CSD and seizures is the pyramidal cell hyperexcitation, it is currently unknown how the dynamics of the cortical microcircuits and inhibitory interneurons affect the initiation of hyperexcitation and subsequent spike block.We tested the contribution of cortical inhibitory interneurons to the initiation of spike block using a cortical microcircuit model that takes into account changes in ion concentrations that result from neuronal firing. Our results show that interneuronal inhibition provides a wider dynamic range to the circuit and generally improves stability against spike block. Despite these beneficial effects, strong interneuronal firing contributed to rapidly changing extracellular ion concentrations, which facilitated hyperexcitation and led to spike block first in the interneuron and then in the pyramidal cell. In all cases, a loss of interneuronal firing triggered pyramidal cell spike block. However, preventing interneuronal spike block was insufficient to rescue the pyramidal cell from spike block. Our data thus demonstrate that while the role of interneurons in cortical microcircuits is complex, they are critical to the initiation of pyramidal cell spike block. We discuss the implications that localized effects on cortical interneurons have beyond the isolated microcircuit and their contribution to CSD and epileptic seizures.

Lifestyle Modifications for Migraine Management

Migraine is a disabling disease that inflicts a heavy burden on individuals who suffer from it. Significant advances are being made in understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease. The role of lifestyle modifications has become increasingly predominant. We reviewed the current and available data on the role of a healthy lifestyle in the management of migraine. Physical activity, management of obesity, a healthy diet, and a better lifestyle, such as adequate sleep and avoidance of drug abuse, significantly contribute to reducing the frequency and severity of attacks. It is important to consider these factors in the overall management strategies for migraine sufferers.

Development and Evaluation of an Integrated Outpatient Infusion Care Model for the Treatment of Pediatric Headache

BACKGROUND

Care for pediatric patients with headache often occurs in high-cost settings such as emergency departments (EDs) and inpatient settings. Outpatient infusion centers have the potential to reduce care costs for pediatric headache management.

METHODS

In this quality improvement study, we describe our experience in creating the capacity to support an integrated outpatient pediatric headache infusion care model through an infusion center. We compare costs of receiving headache treatment in this model with those in the emergency and inpatient settings. Because dihydroergotamine (DHE) is a costly infusion, encounters at which DHE was administered were analyzed separately. We track the number of ED visits and inpatient admissions for headache using run charts. As a balancing measure, we compare treatment efficacy between the infusion care model and the inpatient setting.

RESULTS

The mean percentage increase in cost of receiving headache treatment in the inpatient setting with DHE was 61% (confidence interval [CI]: 30-99%), and that without DHE was 582% (CI: 299-1068%) compared with receiving equivalent treatments in the infusion center. The mean percentage increase in cost of receiving headache treatment in the ED was 30% (CI: -15 to 100%) compared with equivalent treatment in the infusion center. After the intervention, ED visits and inpatient admissions for headache decreased. The mean change in head pain was similar across care settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that developing an integrated ambulatory care model with infusion capacity for refractory pediatric headache is feasible, and our early outcomes suggest this may have a favorable impact on the overall value of care for this population.

Diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and impact of migraine in the US: Results of the OVERCOME (US) study

OBJECTIVE

The ObserVational survey of the Epidemiology, tReatment and Care of MigrainE (OVERCOME; United States) study is a multicohort, longitudinal web survey that assesses symptomatology, consulting, diagnosis, treatment, and impact of migraine in the United States.

BACKGROUND

Regularly updating population-based views of migraine in the United States provides a method for assessing the quality of ongoing migraine care and identifying unmet needs.

METHODS

The OVERCOME (US) 2018 migraine cohort involved: (I) creating a demographically representative sample of US adults using quota sampling (n = 97,478), (II) identifying people with active migraine in the past year via a validated migraine diagnostic questionnaire and/or self-reported medical diagnosis of migraine (n = 24,272), and (III) assessing consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of migraine (n = 21,143). The current manuscript evaluated whether those with low frequency episodic migraine (LFEM; 0-3 monthly headache days) differed from other categories on outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

Among the migraine cohort (n = 21,143), 19,888 (94.1%) met our International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition-based case definition of migraine and 12,905 (61.0%) self-reported a medical diagnosis of migraine. Respondents' mean (SD) age was 42.2 (15.0) years; 15,697 (74.2%) were women. Having at least moderate disability was common (n = 8965; 42.4%) and around half (n = 10,783; 51.0%) had consulted a medical professional for migraine care in the past year. Only 4792 (22.7%) of respondents were currently using a triptan. Overall, 8539 (40.4%) were eligible for migraine preventive medication and 3555 (16.8%) were currently using migraine preventive medication. Those with LFEM differed from moderate and high frequency episodic migraine and chronic migraine on nearly all measures of consulting, diagnosis, and treatment.

CONCLUSION

The OVERCOME (US) 2018 cohort revealed slow but steady progress in diagnosis and preventive treatment of migraine. However, despite significant impact among the population, many with migraine have unmet needs related to consulting for migraine, migraine diagnosis, and getting potentially beneficial migraine treatment. Moreover, it demonstrated the heterogeneity and varying unmet needs within episodic migraine.

Pizotifen for the treatment of migraine. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Pizotifen is an oral drug developed many years ago for the prophylaxis of migraine. Trials on pizotifen are decades old, and there has never been a systematic review and meta-analyses of data from these clinical studies. Methods This is a systematic review and meta-analyses on pizotifen's efficacy and safety for prophylactic migraine treatment. We considered for inclusion only randomized clinical trials (RCTs). A comprehensive electronic search was performed without language, date or publication status restrictions in the formal electronic databases, clinical trial registration platforms and grey literature. Results There were eight RCTs of pizotifen compared either to placebo or to other drugs. Very low certainty of evidence showed that pizotifen seems to be superior to placebo regarding clinical symptoms improvement (Relative risk [RR] 6.00; 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.63 to 22.03; p = 0.007), but not inferior to naproxen, flunarizine, valproate or clonidine. Weight gain was the most frequent adverse event of pizotifen but there was no difference with placebo (RR 1.92; 95% CI 0.30 to 12.38; 2 RCTs; 142 participants; I2 = 67%; p = 0.49). Conclusion The RCTs of pizotifen were decades old. It is a safe and potentially efficacious inexpensive drug that deserves a better designed, modern clinical trial before being dismissed as an option for migraine therapy. PROSPERO Register: CRD42020194347.

Shared Patterns of Brain Functional Connectivity for the Comorbidity between Migraine and Insomnia

Migraine is commonly comorbid with insomnia; both disorders are linked to functional disturbance of the default mode network (DMN). Evidence suggests that DMN could be segregated into multiple subnetworks with specific roles that underline different cognitive processes. However, the relative contributions of DMN subnetworks in the comorbidity of migraine and insomnia remain largely unknown. This study sought to identify altered functional connectivity (FC) profiles of DMN subnetworks in the comorbidity of migraine and insomnia. Direct group comparisons with healthy controls, followed by conjunction analyses, were used to identify shared FC alterations of DMN subnetworks. The shared FC changes of the DMN subnetworks in the migraine and insomnia groups were identified in the dorsomedial prefrontal and posteromedial cortex subnetworks. These shared FC changes were primarily associated with motor and somatosensory systems, and consistently found in patients with comorbid migraine and insomnia. Additionally, the magnitude of FC between the posteromedial cortex and postcentral gyrus correlated with insomnia duration in patients with comorbid migraine and insomnia. Our findings point to specific FC alterations of the DMN subnetwork in migraine and insomnia. The shared patterns of FC disturbance may be associated with the underlying mechanisms of the comorbidity of the two disorders.

Perceived stress and pain severity in individuals with chronic migraine: A longitudinal cohort study using daily prospective diary data

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe patterns of peak attack severity from day-to-day, and in relation to same-day perceived stress, in individuals with chronic migraine (CM).

BACKGROUND

Although changes in perceived stress are often believed to trigger attacks, little is known about the relationship between perceived stress and attack severity, and about the role of perceived stress in the day-to-day experience of individuals with CM, as opposed to those with less frequent attacks.

METHODS

This was an observational prospective longitudinal cohort study among adults with CM. Daily data about headache, symptoms, and lifestyle factors were collected using the N1-Headache™ digital health platform for 90 days. Days were classified as "migraine days" when a headache occurred that met the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria. Perceived stress was measured using a 0-10 rating scale. On migraine days, peak pain severity was recorded on a four-point categorical pain scale. Participant-level plots of daily peak severity, colored by perceived stress score, were generated. The relationship between peak severity and perceived stress was also modeled and adjusted for sex, age, continuous headache, presence of menstrual bleeding, day of the week, and disability.

RESULTS

Data on 136 participants with 8216 migraine days were analyzed. Sixty-nine percent (94/136) of participants reported the same peak severity on the majority (≥50%) of their migraine days. For every one unit increase in perceived stress, the odds of reporting a higher peak severity were 10% higher (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 1.10 [1.07-1.14]). The inclusion of random effects for the intercept and slope improved the model and demonstrated that there were large differences in individuals' reporting of peak severity and in the relationship between perceived stress and peak severity.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with CM report distinct patterns of peak severity from day-to-day. Although overall higher perceived stress was associated with higher peak severity, there is a substantial amount of variation between individuals in this relationship.

Efficacy of a pediatric headache infusion center: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of a pediatric headache infusion center (HIC) in alleviating the symptoms and preventing future visits to the emergency department (ED).

BACKGROUND

Headache is a common reason for visits to the pediatric ED. ED visits are associated with inordinate costs of care and are conceived by parents to be avoidable if adequate alternatives are available. An infusion center for acute treatment of intractable headache in children with chronic migraine may be an effective alternative to an ED visit.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of data from a single-center cohort of patients with a known history of chronic migraine, presenting to Dayton Children's HIC with an acute migraine from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2020. Patients were treated according to established protocols divided into two pathways. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and postinfusion pain scores, ED visits and inpatient admissions within 2 weeks of HIC visit, and ED visits 1 year prior and 1 year after the HIC visit were noted.

RESULTS

A total of 297 HIC visits were analyzed from 201 patients. The HIC was effective in controlling symptoms with a significant reduction in pain score (median [interquartile range; IQR] 7.0 [2.0] preinfusion vs. 1.0 [2.0] postinfusion, p < 0.001). Only 25/297 (8.4%) patients came to the ED within 2 weeks of the HIC visit, and an even smaller number of patients (20/297, 6.7%) were admitted as inpatients within 2 weeks of the HIC visit. The number of ED visits was significantly reduced in the year after the HIC visit compared with the year prior (median [IQR] 1.0 [2.0] before vs. 0.0 [1.0] after, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A pediatric HIC is effective in alleviating the symptoms and preventing ED visits. These centers should be considered as standard of care at children's hospitals.

The role of a potential biomarker in patients with migraine: review and new insights

Introduction: The search for an ideal biomarker for migraine has persisted for a long time. There is plentiful evidence of potential biomarkers for migraine found in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and saliva.Areas covered: Herein, the authors highlight and discuss the most promising candidates in the literature. An electronic search was performed for studies published between 2010 and 2020 in MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, related to potential biomarkers in migraine patients, found in cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and serum, focusing on biomarkers that can be related to treatment and clinical outcomes.Expert opinion: An ideal biomarker, or a panel of biomarkers, could revolutionize the way we address and propose treatments for this disease. Once severe presentations and phenotypes have been identified using a reliable biomarker, patients could be treated at earlier disease stages with more specific medications. The most important biomarkers with the most significant levels of evidence comprised calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), glutamate, nerve growth factor, some inflammatory (CRP, TNF-α, interleukins) and oxidative stress markers. CGRP was associated with episodic, chronic migraine and response to treatment. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide is an emerging neuropeptide involved in migraine diagnostics and severity. New genetic and epigenetic biomarkers will be candidates for future research.

Characterization of chronic overlapping pain conditions in patients with chronic migraine: A CHOIR study

OBJECTIVE

Chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) represent a co-aggregation of widespread pain disorders. We characterized differences in physical and psychosocial functioning in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and those with CM and COPCs.

BACKGROUND

Patients with CM and COPCs have been identified as a distinct subgroup of patients with CM, and these patients may be vulnerable to greater symptom severity and burden.

METHODS

Data were extracted from Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry (an open-source learning health-care system), completed at the patients' first visit at a large tertiary care pain management center and electronic medical records. In 1601 patients with CM, the number of non-cephalic areas of pain endorsed on a body map was used to examine the differences in pain, physical and psychosocial function, adverse life experience, and health-care utilization.

RESULTS

Patients endorsing more body map regions reported significantly worse symptoms and function across all domains. Scored on a t-score metric (mean = 50, SD = 10), endorsement of one additional body map region corresponded with a 0.69-point increase in pain interference (95% CI = 0.55, 0.82; p < 0.001; Cohen's f = 0.328), 1.15-point increase in fatigue (95% CI = 0.97, 1.32; p < 0.001; Cohen's f = 0.432), and 1.21-point decrease in physical function (95% CI = -1.39, -1.03; p < 0.001; Cohen's f = 0.560). Patients with more widespread pain reported approximately 5% more physician visits (95% CI = 0.03, 0.07; p < 0.001), and patients reporting adverse life events prior to age 17 endorsed 22% more body map regions (95% CI = 0.11, 0.32; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CM and other overlapping pain conditions as noted on the body map report significantly worse pain-related physical function, psychosocial functioning, increased health-care utilization, and greater association with adverse life experiences, compared with those with localized CM. This study provides further evidence that patients with CM and co-occurring pain conditions are a distinct subgroup of CM and can be easily identified through patient-reported outcome measures.

Chronic Migraine: An Update on Diagnosis and Management

Background

Chronic migraine is an under-recognized and under-treated disorder. A greater understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and transformation to chronic migraine has led to the first targeted treatments for chronic migraine. In this review, we review current approaches to the diagnosis and management of chronic migraine and discuss recent and emerging novel therapies.

Objective

The aim of this study was to provide an update on the diagnosis and management of chronic migraine.

Methods and Material

The PubMed database was searched for relevant articles published on or before October 2020.

Results and Conclusions

Chronic migraine is an under-recognized and under-treated disorder. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management can lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life with subsequent socioeconomic benefits.

Ubrogepant: An Oral Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Receptor Antagonist for Abortive Migraine Treatment

OBJECTIVE

To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of ubrogepant as an abortive migraine treatment.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search of MEDLINE and PubMed was performed (January 2006 through May 2021) using the following search terms: ubrogepant, calcitonin gene related peptide, and abortive migraine therapy.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Relevant studies evaluating ubrogepant's pharmacology, efficacy, and safety in humans for the treatment of migraine were considered.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Ubrogepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the acute treatment of migraine via data from ACHIEVE I and II. From ACHIEVE I, ubrogepant demonstrated superiority to placebo in freedom from migraine pain at 2 hours postdose (50-mg dose: odds ratio [OR] = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.25-2.66; 100-mg dose: OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.41-2.95) and freedom from most bothersome symptom (MBS; 50-mg dose: OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.27-2.28; 100-mg dose: OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.22-2.17). ACHIEVE II trial demonstrated efficacy of ubrogepant 50 mg compared with placebo (2-hour pain freedom: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.14-2.29; 2-hour MBS freedom: OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.25-2.20).

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

Ubrogepant is a viable option for patients who are unable to tolerate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or triptan therapy because of ineffective relief or contraindications that limit use.

CONCLUSIONS

Ubrogepant is a well-tolerated effective abortive migraine treatment that bridges a gap in therapy for many patients who previously could not tolerate other first-line treatments.

Chronic versus episodic migraine: The 15-day threshold does not adequately reflect substantial differences in disability across the full spectrum of headache frequency

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the 15-day threshold of headache days per month adequately reflects substantial differences in disability across the full spectrum of migraine.

BACKGROUND

The monthly frequency of headache days defines migraine subtypes and has crucial implications for epidemiological and clinical research as well as access to care.

METHODS

The patients with migraine (N = 836) who participated in the American Registry for Migraine Research, which is a multicenter, longitudinal patient registry, between February 2016 and March 2020, were divided into four groups based on monthly headache frequency: Group 1 (0-7 headache days/month, n = 286), Group 2 (8-14 headache days/month, n = 180), Group 3 (15-23 headache days/month, n = 153), Group 4 (≥24 headache days/month, n = 217). Disability (MIDAS), Pain intensity (NRS), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI), Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores were compared.

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 46 (13) years (87.9% [735/836] female). The proportion of patients in each group was as follows: Group 1 (34.2% [286/836]), Group 2 (21.5% [180/836]), Group 3 (18.3% [153/836]), and Group 4 (26.0% [217/836]). There were significant relationships with increasing disability, lost productive time, and pain interference in higher headache frequency categories. There were no significant differences between Group 2 and Group 3 for most measures (NRS, all WPAI scores, PROMIS-PI, GAD-7, and PHQ-4), although MIDAS scores differed (median [interquartile range (IQR)]; 38 [20-58] vs. 55 [30-90], p < 0.001). Patients in Group 1 had significantly lower MIDAS (median [IQR];16 [7-30], p < 0.001), WPAI-% total active impairment (mean (SD): Group 1 [30.9 (26.8)] vs. Group 2 [39.2 (24.5), p = 0.017], vs. Group 3 [45.9 (24.1), p < 0.001], vs. Group 4 [55.3 (23.0), p < 0.001], and PROMIS-PI-T score (Group 1 [60.3 (7.3)] vs. Group 2 [62.6 (6.4), p = 0.008], vs. Group 3 [64.6 (5.6), p < 0.001], vs. Group 4 [66.8 (5.9), p < 0.001]) compared to all other groups. Patients in Group 4 had significantly higher MIDAS (median (IQR): Group 4 [90 (52-138)] vs. Group 1 [16 (7-30), p < 0.001], vs. Group 2 [38 (20-58), p < 0.001], vs. Group 3 [55 (30-90), p < 0.001], WPAI-%Presenteeism (Group 4 [50.4 (24.4)] vs. Group 1 [28.8 (24.9), p < 0.001], vs. Group 2 [34.9 (22.3), p < 0.001], vs. Group 3 [40.9 (22.3), p = 0.048], WPAI-% total work productivity impairment (Group 4 [55.9 (26.1)] vs. Group 1 [32.1 (37.6), p < 0.001], vs. Group 2 [38.3 (24.0), p < 0.001], vs. Group 3 [44.6 (24.4), p = 0.019]), and WPAI-%Total activity impairment (Group 4 [55.3 (23.0)] vs. Group 1 [30.9 (26.8), p < 0.001], vs. Group 2 [39.2 (24.5), p < 0.001], vs. Group 3 [45.9 (24.1), p = 0.025]) scores compared with all other groups.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the use of a 15 headache day/month threshold to distinguish episodic and chronic migraine does not capture the burden of illness nor reflect the treatment needs of patients. These results have important implications for future refinements in the classification of migraine.

Healthcare Expenditures Associated With Comorbid Anxiety and Depression Among Adults With Migraine

Introduction: Depression and anxiety are common among patients with migraine and usually associated with a humanistic and financial burden. This study aims to examine the direct healthcare expenditures among adults with migraine alone or with comorbid anxiety and/or depression. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using 2012, 2014, and 2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Adult patients aged ≥22 years with migraine headache were included in the study. The direct healthcare expenditures of four migraine groups (migraine alone, migraine and anxiety, migraine and depression, and migraine and both conditions) were compared. Results: There were 1,556 patients who met the inclusion criteria and eventually enrolled in the study. Approximately 42% of the study sample had migraine with comorbid depression and/or anxiety (16.1% have depression, 12.3% have anxiety disorder, and 13.9% have both). The mean total healthcare expenditures of adults with migraine alone ($6,461) were significantly lower than those with comorbid depression and anxiety ($11,102), comorbid anxiety ($10,817), and comorbid depression ($14,577). Migraine with comorbid anxiety and depression was significantly associated with incremental costs of $1,027 in outpatient and $662 emergency room healthcare expenditures and prescription drug compared to the migraine alone group. Conclusions: The healthcare expenditures associated with migraine with comorbid depression and/or anxiety are significantly higher than those without mental health comorbidities. Therefore, regular depression and anxiety screening for patients with migraine may help reduce the healthcare expenditures associated with depression and/or anxiety comorbidities and improve the quality of care.

The Burden of Illness of Migraine in Canada: New Insights on Humanistic and Economic Cost

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to characterize the burden of illness of migraine in Canada. The primary objective was to estimate the annual direct medical resource use and associated costs in migraine patients who failed at least two prophylactic therapies for migraine.

METHODS

Adults with at least four migraine days per month and who had failed at least two prophylactic migraine therapies were included. Participation in a clinical trial within 12 months of enrollment was the sole exclusionary criterion. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics, migraine-related treatment and medical history, and direct medical resource utilization were collected through a retrospective medical chart review. Data on patient characteristics, lifestyle factors, treatments, medical resource utilization, out-of-pocket expenses, and indirect costs were collected through a cross-sectional patient survey. The patient survey also included validated patient-reported outcome instruments to assess migraine impact on quality of life and work productivity loss.

RESULTS

In total, 287 migraine patients were included. The mean time since migraine diagnosis was 14.3 years and patients experienced a mean of 14.1 migraine days per month. The total estimated annual cost of chronic migraine (CM) was $25,669 per patient, while the annual total costs for high-frequency episodic and low-frequency episodic migraine (EM) were estimated to be $24,885 and $15,651, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Migraine is associated with moderate to severe disability. This results in substantial economic burden, directly from healthcare costs such as prescription medications and indirectly through lost work productivity. We also observed that patients with high-frequency EM experience significant burden, similar to that observed for patients with CM.

Migraine: epidemiology and systems of care

Migraine is a neurovascular disorder that affects over 1 billion people worldwide. Its widespread prevalence, and associated disability, have a range of negative and substantial effects not only on those immediately affected but also on their families, colleagues, employers, and society. To reduce this global burden, concerted efforts are needed to implement and improve migraine care that is supported by informed health-care policies. In this Series paper, we summarise the data on migraine epidemiology, including estimates of its very considerable burden on the global economy. First, we present the challenges that continue to obstruct provision of adequate care worldwide. Second, we outline the advantages of integrated and coordinated systems of care, in which primary and specialist care complement and support each other; the use of comprehensive referral and linkage protocols should enable continuity of care between these systems levels. Finally, we describe challenges in low and middle-income countries, including countries with poor public health education, inadequate access to medication, and insufficient formal education and training of health-care professionals resulting in misdiagnosis, mismanagement, and wastage of resources.

Reduced regulatory T lymphocytes in migraine patients

Objectives: Migraine is a primary headache disorder with unknown pathophysiology. Recently, many studies have suggested the role of immune dysfunction in the pathophysiology of this disorder. In this study, we investigated the percentage of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in different migraine categories.Methods: Peripheral blood samples of 40 newly diagnosed cases of migraine and 33 healthy individuals were collected for Treg cell analysis by flow cytometry.Results: The percentage of Treg cells in migraine patients with all subgroups including patients with or without auras and patients with chronic or episodic migraine was significantly lower than that of the control group. Also, a significant increase in the CD25 means fluorescence intensity (MFI) was observed in migraine without aura and chronic migraine groups, compared to the normal group.Conclusions: In this study, the number of Treg cells significantly decreased in new cases of migraine, which suggests that migraine is a result of an impairment in the immunological system or an autoimmune disease. Also, the insignificant difference in the number of Treg cells between the two categories of migraine suggests that there is no link between the reduced number of Treg cells and the emergence of aura symptoms or duration of the disease.

Characteristics of Adults with Migraine in Alberta, Canada: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Migraine, including episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM), is a common neurological disorder that imparts a substantial health burden.

OBJECTIVE

Understand the characteristics and treatment of EM and CM from a population-based perspective.

METHODS

This retrospective population-based cross-sectional study utilized administrative data from Alberta. Among those with a migraine diagnostic code, CM and EM were identified by an algorithm and through exclusion, respectively; characteristics and migraine medication use were examined with descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

From 79,076 adults with a migraine diagnostic code, 12,700 met the criteria for CM and 54,686 were considered to have EM. The majority of migraineurs were female, the most common comorbidity was depression, and individuals with CM had more comorbidities than EM. A larger proportion of individuals with CM versus EM were dispensed acute (80.6%: CM; 63.4%: EM) and preventative (58.0%: CM; 28.9%: EM) migraine medications over 1 year. Among those with a dispensation, individuals with CM had more acute (13.6 ± 32.2 vs. 4.6 ± 10.9 [mean ± standard deviation], 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.7-8.3), and preventative (12.6 ± 43.5 vs. 5.0 ± 12.6, 95% CI 6.9-8.4) migraine medication dispensations than EM, over 1-year. Opioids were commonly used in both groups (proportion of individuals dispensed an opioid over 1-year: 53.1%: CM; 25.7%: EM).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with EM and CM displayed characteristics and medication use patterns consistent with other reports. Application of this algorithm for CM may be a useful and efficient means of identifying subgroups of migraine using routinely collected health data in Canada.

Long-term safety and tolerability of eptinezumab in patients with chronic migraine: a 2-year, open-label, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Eptinezumab, an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody recently approved in the United States for preventive treatment of migraine in adults, was found to be well tolerated in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with episodic and chronic migraine. The objective of the PREVAIL study was to evaluate the long-term safety, immunogenicity, and impact on patient-reported outcomes of repeat doses of eptinezumab in patients with chronic migraine.

METHODS

PREVAIL was an open-label, phase 3 trial comprising a 48-week treatment phase followed by a second 48-week treatment phase. Adults with chronic migraine received eptinezumab 300 mg by 30-min intravenous administration every 12 weeks for up to 8 doses. Patients were followed for 20 weeks after the final infusion (end-of-study visit at week 104).

RESULTS

Overall, 128 adults (mean age, 41.5 years) with chronic migraine were included. During the 2 years, the most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events were nasopharyngitis (14.1%), upper respiratory tract infection (7.8%), sinusitis (7.8%), influenza (6.3%), bronchitis (5.5%), and migraine (5.5%). The rate of study-drug discontinuation due to adverse events was 6.3%, which included 3 patients with infusion-related hypersensitivity. The incidence of anti-eptinezumab antibodies peaked at week 24 and declined despite continued dosing, to nondetectable levels at week 104. Improvements in patient-reported outcomes were observed at first assessment (week 4) and generally sustained through week 104.

CONCLUSION

In adults with chronic migraine, eptinezumab 300 mg demonstrated a favorable safety profile, limited long-term immunogenicity, early and sustained reductions in migraine-related burden, and improvements in health-related quality of life over 2 years.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02985398 ).

Cost-effectiveness of Erenumab Versus Surgical Trigger Site Deactivation for the Treatment of Migraine Headaches: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Migraine headache is a common, debilitating condition responsible for astronomical societal burden. The chronicity of migraine headaches necessitates the use of many healthcare services. Preventative treatment remains the desirable option for this patient population. Pharmacologic advances have led to the development of erenumab, a monoclonal antibody calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist that directly interferes with the known biochemical pathway of migraine initiation. Alternatively, surgical decompression of migraine trigger sites is a historically effective preventative option for certain patients experiencing migraine headaches. As new treatments emerge, the large economic burden of migraine headaches requires cost evaluation against already available preventative modalities.

METHODS

Studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of both erenumab and surgical trigger site deactivation were found using EMBASE and MedLine. Relevant economic data was extracted from this literature and the cost of treatment with erenumab was compared with surgical decompression.

RESULTS

The market price of erenumab is $6900/yr. Speculative models predicted a direct annual healthcare cost ranging from $11,404 to $12,988 for patients experiencing episodic migraine. For chronic migraine patients, this range extended to $25,604. Annual indirect costs ranged from $7601 to $19,377. Prospective and model-based studies evaluating surgical trigger site deactivation reported an average 1 time surgical cost between $6956 and $10,303. In episodic migraine, subsequent annual healthcare costs were $900.

CONCLUSIONS

Erenumab has potential to be a revolutionary noninvasive preventative treatment for migraine headache. With that said, the cost-conscious option for patients receiving more than 1 year of treatment remains surgical trigger site deactivation.

Budget Impact of Microbial Cell-Free DNA Testing Using the Karius® Test as an Alternative to Invasive Procedures in Immunocompromised Patients with Suspected Invasive Fungal Infections

BACKGROUND

Invasive fungal infection is a major source of morbidity and mortality. The usage of microbial cell-free DNA for the detection and identification of invasive fungal infection has been considered as a potential alternative to invasive procedures allowing for rapid results.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis aimed to assess the budget implications of using the Karius^® Test in patients suspected of invasive fungal infection in an average state in the USA from a healthcare payer perspective.

METHODS

The analysis used a decision tree to capture key stages of the patient pathway, from suspected invasive fungal infection to either receiving treatment for invasive fungal infection or being confirmed as having no invasive fungal infection. The analysis used published costs and resource use from a targeted review of the literature. Because of the paucity of published evidence on the reduction of diagnostic tests displaced by the Karius Test, the analysis used a 50% reduction in the use of bronchoscopy and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. The impact of this reduction was tested in a scenario analysis.

RESULTS

The results of the analysis show that the introduction of the Karius Test is associated with a cost saving of US$2277 per patient; when multiplied by the estimated number of cases per year, the cost saving is US$17,039,666. The scenario analysis showed that the Karius Test only had an incremental cost of US$87 per patient when there was no reduction in bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage.

CONCLUSIONS

The Karius Test may offer a valuable and timely option for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection through its non-invasive approach and subsequent cost savings.

Understanding the migraine treatment landscape prior to the introduction of calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors: Results from the Assessment of TolerabiliTy and Effectiveness in MigrAINe Patients using Preventive Treatment (ATTAIN) study

BACKGROUND

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors were introduced in the United States (US) in 2018. To understand the changing patterns of preventive treatment following the introduction of these new agents, we must first characterize the patterns which preceded their introduction.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the burden, unmet need, and treatment patterns in patients with migraine initiating preventive migraine medications before the introduction of CGRP inhibitors in the US.

METHODS

Between March 2016 and October 2017, we enrolled episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) patients initiating or changing preventive treatment at primary care or neurology clinic visits in the US, in a real-world observational study using a prospective cohort design. At baseline and monthly thereafter for 6 months, we collected data from study sites and patients on migraine frequency, treatment modifications, migraine impact on functioning, and work productivity for a descriptive analysis of migraine patient experience and treatment patterns.

RESULTS

From the sample of 234 completers, 118 had EM (50.4%) and 116 had CM (49.6%). Mean age at enrollment was 41 years (SD = 12) and mean age at first migraine diagnosis was 22 years (SD = 11). Most participants were females (n = 204/234; 87.2%) and white (n = 178/234; 76.1%). The majority (n = 164/234; 70.1%) had not used preventive migraine treatment in the 5 years prior to enrollment (treatment naïve). At baseline, mean monthly migraine days were 9.6 days (SD = 5.0) for the preventive treatment naïve group and 12.4 days (SD = 7.0) for treatment experienced patients. The majority had severe Migraine Disability Assessment (Grade IV, total score ≥21), including 67.1% (n = 110/164) of the preventive treatment naïve and 77.1% (n = 54/70) of the preventive treatment experienced patients. Headache Impact Test total scores indicating severe impairment (score >59) occurred in 88.4% (n = 145/164) of the treatment naïve and 88.6% (n = 62/70) of treatment experienced patients. Mean work productivity loss as measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire in the subsample of employed patients was 53.3% loss. The most used acute medications at baseline were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (n = 124/234; 53.0%), acetaminophen-based products (n = 112/234; 47.9%), and triptans (n = 105/234; 44.9%). The most commonly initiated preventive treatments were topiramate (n = 100/234; 42.7%), tricyclic antidepressants (n = 39/234; 16.7%), beta-blockers (n = 26/234; 11.1%), and onabotulinumtoxinA (n = 24/234; 10.3%). Over the 6-month follow-up period, almost half of patients (n = 116/234, 49.6%) modified their preventive treatment and discontinued treatment (n = 88/312 total modifications; 28.2%) or modified their pattern of use by increasing, decreasing, or skipping doses (n = 224/312 total modifications; 71.8%), often without seeking medical advice. Avoiding side effects was the main reason reported among patients who discontinued (n = 52/88; 59.1%), decreased frequency or dose (n = 37/89; 41.6%), and skipped doses (n = 29/86; 33.7%). Perceived lack of efficacy was another frequent reason reported among those who discontinued (n = 20/88; 22.7%), decreased frequency or dose (n = 15/89; 16.9%), and skipped doses (n = 18/86; 20.9%). Despite initiation of preventive treatment and improvements observed in number of headache and migraine days, migraine patients continued to experience substantial disability, headache impact, and reduced productivity throughout the 6-month follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Prior to 2018, the burden of migraine was high for patients initiating preventive treatments. Despite having more than 9 days of migraine per month on average, the majority (70.1%) of patients initiating prevention had been treatment naïve, indicating underuse of preventive treatments. The preventive treatments used in this study were poorly tolerated and were reported by patients to lack efficacy, resulting in suboptimal adherence. The high discontinuation rates suggest that the preventive medications being offered during the period of the study did not meet the treatment needs of patients. In addition, the decisions by about half of patients to alter their prescribed treatment plan without consulting their provider can pose substantial health risks. These findings pertain to the broad set of preventive treatments initiated in this study and do not support inferences about individual preventive treatments, due to limitations in sample size. These findings suggest the need for more effective and better tolerated preventive treatment options.

Real-world migraine-related healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with improved vs. worsened/stable migraine: a panel-based chart review in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the migraine-related healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among patients with improved vs. worsened/stable migraine.

METHODS

This was a follow-up to a retrospective, panel-based chart review conducted in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain among a panel of physicians (neurologists, headache specialists, and pain specialists) who agreed to participate in patient studies and had treated ≥10 migraine patients in 2017. Eligible physicians extracted data for up to five adults with ≥4 monthly migraine days (MMDs) who initiated a preventive treatment on or after 1 January 2013 and received physician care for ≥6 months after the date of the most recent preventive treatment initiation (index date). Based on the trajectory of migraine severity from the 1-month pre-index period to the 6-month post-index period, cohorts were classified as improved (converting from chronic to episodic or from chronic/episodic to <4 MMDs) or stable/worsened (remaining chronic/episodic or transforming from episodic to chronic) migraine. Migraine-related HRU and costs (2017 €) during the 6-month post-index period were compared between patients with improved vs. stable/worsened migraine.

RESULTS

Overall, 470 patient charts were analyzed, with 339 classified as improved migraine and 131 classified as stable/worsened migraine. After adjusting for within-physician correlation, country, sex, and presence of comorbidities before the index date, the improved migraine cohort had significantly fewer migraine-related physician office visits (-0.81; p < .001), emergency room/accident & emergency (ER/A&E) visits (-0.67; p < .001), and hospitalizations (-0.12; p < .001) in the 6-month post-index period vs. the stable/worsened migraine cohort. Consistent with HRU patterns, the adjusted migraine-related costs for physician office visits (-€42.23; p < .05), hospitalizations (-€215.56; p < .05), and total costs (-€396.81; p < .01) in the 6-month post-index period were significantly reduced for the improved migraine cohort vs. the stable/worsened migraine cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Over a 6-month period following initiation of preventive migraine treatment, patients with improved migraine had significantly lower migraine-related HRU and costs than those with stable/worsened migraine.

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

AIMS

To evaluate the healthcare resource use (HRU) and cost of lost productivity due to migraine among Italians with ≥4 monthly migraine days (MMDs), with a focus on those with ≥2 prior preventive treatment failures (TFs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from Italian participants from the My Migraine Voice survey were used to assess migraine-related HRU and migraine's impact on work productivity and daily activities using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. The mean, annualized cost of lost productivity was estimated using the Human Capital Approach and extrapolated to employed Italian population with ≥4 MMDs to calculate the overall migraine-related indirect cost burden in Italy.

RESULTS

Data of 420 participants, enrolled between September 2017 and February 2018, were analyzed (mean age: 38.5 years, 81.2% women, 37.8% with ≥2 TF). During a 6-month period, 57.6% of participants visited general practitioners (mean visits: 4.5), 31.9% neurologists (mean visits: 2.6), and 26.4% headache specialists (mean visits: 2.8). Overall, 32.0% of participants had ≥1 emergency room visit (mean visits: 2.8) and 15.0% had ≥1 hospitalization (mean visits: 2.9) because of migraine in the past 12 months. Participants who were employed (N = 215) reported 15.5% absenteeism, 45.3% presenteeism, 53.8% overall work impairment, and 52.6% activity impairment. The mean annualized indirect cost was estimated to be €14,368. The annual indirect cost burden was estimated to be €7.6 billion for the employed Italian population with ≥4 MMDs. The impact of migraine was particularly high among the ≥2 TF subgroups on all parameters. The indirect cost was estimated to be €15,881 (€5,007 attributed to absenteeism).

CONCLUSION

Migraine-related HRU and indirect costs are high among individuals with ≥4 MMDs (particularly those with ≥2 TF). There is a need for more effective treatments and better management of migraines to reduce the functional and economic burden among this difficult-to-treat population.

Real-world Experience with Remote Electrical Neuromodulation in the Acute Treatment of Migraine

OBJECTIVE

Remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) is a nonpharmacological acute migraine treatment that stimulates upper-arm peripheral nerves. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of REN for acute treatment of migraine in a real-world setting.

METHODS

Real-world data were collected from patients who were using REN (Nerivio®, Theranica Bio-Electronics Ltd., Israel) between October 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020. Patients recorded their symptoms at baseline, two hours, and 24 hours post-treatment. Patients were stratified based on the type of visit and provider; in-person visits with headache specialists (HS group) or virtual visits with nonheadache specialists (NHS group). Efficacy outcome focused on intra-individual consistency of response across multiple attacks.

RESULTS

We found that 58.9% (662/1,123) of the patients in the HS group and 74.2% (23/31) of the patients in the NHS group experienced pain relief at two hours in at least 50% of their treated attacks and 20.0% (268/1,339) of the patients in the HS group and 35.6% (16/45) of the patients in the NHS group experienced pain freedom at two hours in at least 50% of their treated attacks. The effects of REN on associated symptoms and improvement in function were also consistent in both groups. The incidence of device-related adverse events was very low (0.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world data confirm that REN results in meaningful clinical benefits with minimal side effects. REN may provide an effective drug-free treatment option for achieving consistent relief from migraine symptoms and may reduce the use of acute medications.

Economic burden and risk factors of migraine disease progression in the US: a retrospective analysis of a commercial payer database

AIMS

To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of migraine progression and to assess the incremental burden of migraine progression on healthcare systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients were required to have a migraine diagnosis in IQVIA's US adjudicated claims database between 1 January 2012 and 30 June 2016, continuous enrollment ≥12 months before and after the index date (i.e. the first observed migraine diagnosis), and ≥1 additional migraine diagnosis claim during the 12-month post-index period. A previously-developed algorithm identified patients with prevention-eligible episodic migraine (EM). All-cause healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs were evaluated at baseline, over the follow-up period and pre/post progression from prevention-eligible EM to chronic migraine. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate risk factors associated with progression.

RESULTS, LIMITATIONS, AND CONCLUSIONS

Of the 125,436 patients with prevention-eligible EM that were initially identified, 5,790 (4.6%) were further identified as progressed. Patients who progressed had higher healthcare costs and higher medication use at baseline compared to patients that did not progress. Mean (SD) all-cause total costs per patient per month were $1,790 ($3,788), significantly higher in the post-progression period compared to $1,414 ($2,456) in the pre-progression period in patients who progressed (p < .0001). Younger age, female sex, initial diagnosis by a neurologist, chronic pain, and use of triptans and/or non-specific acute medications were all significant progression risk factors. Results are limited by the use of a heterogeneous population (incident, prevalent, treated, and untreated patients), coding biases, and lack of information on non-prescription drug utilization and plan limits. Limitations aside, there are substantial HCRU and cost burden associated with migraine progression. Younger age, female sex, and the use of specific drug classes are likely to increase migraine disease progression risk.