Identification of work accommodations and interventions associated with work productivity in adults with migraine: A scoping review

Impact of eptinezumab on work productivity beyond reductions in monthly migraine days: post hoc analysis of the DELIVER trial

BACKGROUND

Eptinezumab's impact on self-reported work productivity in adults with migraine and 2‒4 prior preventive migraine treatment failures is not fully understood.

METHODOLOGY

Electronic diaries captured monthly migraine days (MMDs) reported by patients enrolled in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled DELIVER trial (NCT04418765). The migraine-specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, administered at baseline and each monthly visit, was a secondary outcome of DELIVER and used to model changes from baseline in self-reported monthly hours of absenteeism (decreased work attendance) and presenteeism (reduced work efficiency while at work with a migraine) in Canada, as the base case. Path analysis illustrated eptinezumab's impact on work productivity beyond MMDs.

RESULTS

As MMDs increased, monthly hours of absenteeism increased linearly while those of presenteeism increased quadratically. Best-fit models were improved after including an eptinezumab treatment effect, showing benefit over placebo after controlling for MMD frequency. Compared to placebo, patients treated with eptinezumab (pooled) had a modeled reduction from baseline of 7.2 h/month (absenteeism) (95% CI: -9.9, -4.5; P < 0.001) and 21.4 h/month (presenteeism) (95% CI: -26.3, -16.5; P < 0.001) over weeks 1‒24. Beyond MMD reductions, improvements in patient-identified most bothersome symptom (PI-MBS) and reductions in percent of severe migraine attacks contributed to eptinezumab's effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Eptinezumab decreased absenteeism and presenteeism based on patient reports, with data highlighting the importance of considering the PI-MBS. The greater change from baseline than placebo in self-reported absenteeism and presenteeism was only partly explained by changes in MMDs, presenting a potential opportunity to decrease the cost of migraine in the workplace.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04418765); EudraCT (Identifier: 2019-004497-25).

Unravelling Migraine Stigma: A Comprehensive Review of Its Impact and Strategies for Change

Migraine-related stigma is a pervasive issue impacting nearly half of chronic migraine patients, with significant consequences for their quality of life, disability and mental health. Despite its profound effects, migraine stigma remains under-recognised in both clinical practice and research. This narrative review explores the three primary types of stigmas affecting migraine patients: public, structural and internalised. Public stigma involves negative societal attitudes and stereotypes that trivialise the condition. Structural stigma is reflected in policies that restrict access to necessary care and resources. Internalised stigma occurs when patients absorb these negative views, leading to self-blame and diminished self-worth. Addressing these different types of stigmas is crucial for improving the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of migraine. Educational efforts, advocacy and policy reform are essential strategies in this context. A deep understanding of stigma is vital for developing effective interventions that enhance clinical management and patient quality of life. Ultimately, reducing stigma can lead to better health outcomes and a more comprehensive approach to migraine care.

A qualitative exploration of migraine in students attending Irish Universities

INTRODUCTION

The complex neurological disorder of migraine is prevalent (19%) and burdensome in university students. Qualitative research exploring the lived experience of migraine in students has yet to be conducted.

METHODS

Students clinically diagnosed with migraine were recruited (purposive sampling) from a sample of Irish third-level institutions for a one-time anonymized Zoom focus group or individual interview. Focus group questions were sent to participants in advance. Interviews were iterative. Participants were also invited to submit a drawing. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and sent to participants for triangulation. Reflexive thematic content analysis was undertaken, data was imported to Microsoft Excel, initial codes were generated, and themes and sub-themes were derived from the codes. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Studies Checklist (S1 File) ensured study rigour.

RESULTS

Twenty students from three Irish universities participated (mean age 23.8 years). The four key themes identified were (i) Migraine Characteristics, (ii) Migraine Self-Management, (iii) Migraine Clinical Management, and (iii) Migraine Impacts. Migraine was described as not just a headache but a debilitating sensory experience. A notable high level of self-management satisfaction indicated hopeful coping strategies. However, many participants said medications were ineffective and had side effects, and clinical management could be improved. Additionally, there was a marked academic and social impact of migraine, psychological issues abounded, and several participants worried about finances.

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine is impactful in a cohort of students attending Irish third-level institutions, with students carrying a wide range of debilitating migraine burdens. Students demonstrate an attitude of resilience and determination despite these challenges. Migraine awareness and education campaigns on university campuses are warranted.

Headache-related clinical features in teleworkers and their association with coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives

The objectives were (1) to describe and compare headache-related clinical features between teleworkers with migraine and those with tension-type headache (TTH) and (2) to determine the association between coping strategies and headache frequency, and intensity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 284 teleworkers (127 with migraine and 157 with TTH). Sociodemographic data, information related to work factors, headache clinical features, coping strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic, and headache-related clinical features were compared between headache profiles. Bivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between coping strategies and headache frequency, and intensity.

Results

Results showed that teleworkers with migraine had longer and more painful headache episodes than teleworkers with TTH (ps < 0.001). Higher migraine frequency was associated with the use of the denial coping strategy (p = 0.006) while lower migraine intensity was associated with planning (p = 0.046) and the use of positive reframing (p = 0.025). Higher TTH frequency was associated with the use of venting, self-blame, and behavioral disengagement (ps < 0.007) while higher TTH intensity was associated with substance use and behavioral disengagement (ps < 0.030). All associations remained significant after adjusting for BMI as a covariate.

Discussion/conclusion

Teleworkers with migraine had more intense and longer headache episodes than teleworkers with TTH. This could be explained by the fact that a greater proportion of individuals suffering from migraine experienced headaches prior to the beginning of the pandemic compared with teleworkers suffering from TTH. Regarding coping strategies, both primary headache profiles were associated with different types of coping strategies. Most of the coping strategies associated with headache frequency or intensity were maladaptive except for planning and positive reframing that were found to be inversely associated with migraine intensity.

Diagnosis, knowledge, perception, and productivity impact of headache education and clinical evaluation program in the workplace at an information technology company of more than 70,000 employees

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a highly prevalent, disabling, misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated neurological disease. It is a leading cause of productivity loss in the workplace.

METHODS

This is the first large-scale company-wide headache education and evaluation program in the workplace.

RESULTS

73,432 (90.5%) Fujitsu employees participated. The prevalence of migraine was 16.7%, tension-type headache 40.7%, and cluster headache 0.5%. After completing the training, 82.9% of participants without headache said they would change their attitude towards colleagues with headache disorders and 72.5% of total participants said their understanding of headache changed. The proportion of employees who thought that headache had a significant impact on people's lives increased from 46.8% to 70.6%; 2971 (4.1%) of all participants were interested in a virtual consultation with a headache specialist as part of the program, more than half of whom had not previously consulted for headache. Approximately 14.7 days per year of full productivity per employee with headache were gained resulting in an annual productivity saving per employee of US$4531.

CONCLUSION

This unique headache workplace program was associated with a high level of participation, an improvement in the understanding of migraine and attitude towards colleagues with migraine, reduction in disability and increased employee productivity, and decreased costs of lost productivity due to migraine. Workplace programs for migraine should be considered for all industry sectors.

Optimized Acute Treatment of Migraine Is Associated With Greater Productivity in People With Migraine: Results From the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to ascertain whether level of optimization of acute treatment of migraine is related to work productivity across the spectrum of migraine.

METHODS

Data were from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study, an internet-based longitudinal survey. Respondents with migraine who reported full-time employment and use of ≥1 acute prescription medication for migraine were included. We determined relationships among lost productive time (LPT; measured with the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale), acute treatment optimization (Migraine Treatment Optimization Questionnaire- ), and monthly headache days (MHDs).

RESULTS

There was a direct relationship between LPT and MHD category. Greater acute treatment optimization was associated with lower total LPT, less absenteeism, and less presenteeism within each MHD category.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimizing acute treatment for migraine may reduce LPT in people with migraine and reduce indirect costs.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Migraine: EQ-5D-5L-Based Study in Routine Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND

Migraine leads to moderate to severe disabilities and disrupts family life, interpersonal relationships, and professional life, and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Many people with migraine suffer prolonged headaches and frequent migraine attacks, transition to having chronic migraine, and have the highest number of disability-adjusted life-years. The aim of this study is to measure the quality of life in migraineurs based on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.

METHODS

We assessed 100 consecutive patients diagnosed with migraine: 70 with episodic migraine and 30 with chronic migraine. Migraineurs were asked to complete the EQ-5D-5L. The control group (n = 100), matched for sex and age group, was created based on the results of the population norms study for the EQ-5D-5L in the general population of Poland.

RESULTS

Patients with migraine had worse HRQoL than the matched general population control group for all three primary endpoints of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire: dimensions, EQ-5D-5L Index and EQ VAS.

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine is a disease that disrupts daily function, and as a lifelong disease, plays a role in every aspect of it. Proving a negative impact on many aspects helps to make decisions about treatment, especially in the context of the design and reimbursement of drugs.

Sex and gender differences in migraines: a narrative review

Introduction

Gender medicine is a new medical approach aimed at the study of the differences between women and men in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and the outcome of all diseases. Migraines are among these. They represent the most common neurological illness; they are most prevalent in adults between 20 and 50 years of age and are three to four times more frequent in woman than in men. Affecting people in working age, migraines are a problem that strongly impacts the psychophysical health and productivity of workers, regardless of the specific job task they have.

Methods

A narrative review was performed, searching for the most relevant articles describing gender differences in people suffering from migraines, and particularly in workers.

Results

Migraine global prevalence is 20.7% in women and 9.7% in men whereas prevalence in Italy is 32.9% for women and only 13.0% for men. This difference is partly explained by hormonal differences, as well as by differences in brain structure, genetic polymorphisms and neuronal pathways. Sex differences may also play a role in the progression from episodic to chronic migraine. In workers, migraines are mostly associated with strenuous physical work in men, whilst migraines triggered by night shifts, lack of sleep, or irregular sleep patterns are more common in women.

Conclusions

To this day, the reasons of sex/gender disparity for migraine are still obscure. However, migraines, chronic migraine in particular, have a negative impact on the lives of all individuals affected by this disease, but particularly in women in which family cares and working activity are often superimposed. Migraine prevention strategies should be planned in workers through the occupational health physician.

Migraine in the workplace

Migraine is prevalent, disabling, and peaks during people's peak productive years. The impact of migraine on people's professional lives, work productivity, and interpersonal relationships at work eventually affects everyone, has a significant detrimental effect on people with migraine, and a huge cost in terms of lost productivity. People with migraine want to work, so they do their best to work despite the varied migraine related and associated symptoms. Most of migraine-related productivity loss (89%) is due to presenteeism. People are less than half effective during a migraine attack due to the pain, migraine symptoms, attack unpredictability, migraine comorbidities, emotional impact, under-diagnosis and under-management, and the stigma. Migraine-related productivity loss may negatively affect people's career choice, job status and/or security, financial status, work relationships, mood, and confidence. Migraine is estimated to represent 16% of total US workforce presenteeism. Thankfully, there are ways to help support people with migraine in the workplace and increase their productivity such as: workplace migraine education programs, workplace migraine education and management programs, migraine-friendly work environment, migraine treatment optimization and advocacy. The example of the successful workplace migraine education and management program developed and run in collaboration between Fujitsu, the Japanase Headache Society, and the International Headache Society Global Patient Advocacy Coalition is discussed.

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Migraine-related productivity loss is costly to people with migraine, to employers, and to everyone in one way or another.

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Workplace migraine education and/or management programs and migraine-friendly environment help people with migraine at work.

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Neurologists can help support their patients in the workplace and get involved in advocacy in many ways.

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

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

Headache in the Workplace: Analysis of Factors Influencing Headaches in Terms of Productivity and Health

Headache is a very common condition that can have a significant impact on work. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of headaches and their impact on a sample of 1076 workers from 18 small companies operating in different sectors. The workers who volunteered to participate were asked to fill in the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) and answer questions designed to assess stressful and traumatic factors potentially associated with headaches. The volunteers subsequently underwent a medical examination and tests for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. Out of the 1044 workers who completed the questionnaire (participation rate = 97%), 509 (48.8%) reported suffering from headaches. In a multivariate logistic regression model, female gender, recent bereavement, intrusive leadership, and sleep problems were significantly associated with headaches. In univariate logistic regression models, headache intensity was associated with an increased risk of anxiety (OR 1.10; CI95% 1.09; 1.12) and depression (OR 1.09; CI95% 1.08; 1.11). Headache impact was also associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (OR 1.02; CI95% 1.00, 1.04), obesity (OR 1.02, CI95% 1.01; 1.03), and reduced HDL cholesterol (OR 1.03; CI95% 1.01; 1.04). The impact of headache calls for intervention in the workplace not only to promote a prompt diagnosis of the different forms of headaches but also to improve work organization, leadership style, and the quality of sleep.

Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine—From Theory to Practice

So far, no coherent and convincing theory has been developed to fully explain the pathogenesis of migraine, although many researchers and experts emphasize its association with spreading cortical depression, oxidative stress, vascular changes, nervous excitement, neurotransmitter release, and electrolyte disturbances. The contribution of magnesium deficiency to the induction of cortical depression or abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission is a likely mechanism of the magnesium–migraine relationship. Hence, there is interest in various methods of assessing magnesium ion deficiency and attempts to study the relationship of its intra- and extracellular levels with the induction of migraine attacks. At the same time, many clinicians believe that magnesium supplementation in the right dose and form can be a treatment to prevent migraine attacks, especially in those patients who have identified contraindications to standard medications or their different preferences. However, there are no reliable publications confirming the role of magnesium deficiency in the diet as a factor causing migraine attacks. It also seems interesting to deepen the research on the administration of high doses of magnesium intravenously during migraine attacks. The aim of the study was to discuss the probable mechanisms of correlation of magnesium deficiency with migraine, as well as to present the current clinical proposals for the use of various magnesium preparations in complementary or substitute pharmacotherapy of migraine. The summary of the results of research and clinical observations to date gives hope of finding a trigger for migraine attacks (especially migraine with aura), which may turn out to be easy to diagnose and eliminate with pharmacological and dietary supplementation.

Clinical therapeutic effects of pulsed-radiofrequency combined with blockade in the treatment of patients with chronic migraine: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, researchers have emphasised on the clinical therapeutic effects of pulsed-radiofrequency combined with blockade to treat chronic migraine (CM) patients. However, there are controversial results. Therefore, the authors conduct the proposed research to assess the efficacy of pulsed-radiofrequency combined with blockade to teat CM patients.

METHODS

The authors will perform a comprehensive literature search on the following online-based databases from establishment till October 2021: Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Cochrane library, and WanFang database. We will consider all randomized controlled trials of pulsed-radiofrequency combined with blockade for CM for inclusion. There won't be any language constraints. Following the search, a pair of reviewers will independently screen and choose related articles to include in the meta-analysis. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used to assess the systematic value of all included randomized controlled trials. The study will utilize the risk ratio, mean differences, or standardized mean differences and their 95% confidence intervals to perform an estimation of the pooled mean effect size. Lastly, the authors will employ funnel plot, Egger test, and sensitivity analysis to determine and describe possible heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The authors will publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.

CONCLUSION

The proposed study will be the first to evaluate the effectiveness of pulsed-radiofrequency combined with blockade in the treatment of patients with CM.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Since the proposed study is a systematic review of published studies, an ethics approval is not needed.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

Oct 12, 2021.osf.io/d2wx3. (https://osf.io/d2wx3/).