The prevalence and impact of migraine and severe headache in the United States: Updated age, sex, and socioeconomic-specific estimates from government health surveys
Rebecca Burch 1 2, Paul Rizzoli 1 2, Elizabeth Loder 2Affiliations expand
- PMID: 33349955
- DOI: 10.1111/head.14024
Abstract
Background and objectives: Accurate, up-to-date estimates of the burden of migraine and severe headache are important for evidence-based decision-making about workforce needs and the distribution of health resources. We used data from US government health surveys to report the prevalence, trends, and impact of this condition by age, sex, and poverty status.
Methods: We identified the most recent, publicly available summary statistics from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, and the National Health Interview Survey. We extracted and compiled relevant information from each study, with an emphasis on sex, age, and economic-related statistics.
Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of migraine and severe headache in the United States has remained stable over many years. In 2018, the age-adjusted prevalence was 15.9% across all adults. The sex ratio also remains stable, with 21% of women and 10.7% of men affected. Migraine continues to be an important public health problem, accounting for roughly 4 million emergency department (ED) visits in 2016, when headache was the fifth most common reason for an ED visit overall and the third most common reason for ED visits in females 15-64. Migraine also accounted for over 4.3 million office visits. Many adults with migraine or severe headaches are disadvantaged. In 2018, for example, roughly 40% of US adults with migraine were unemployed, and a similar proportion were classified as poor or “near poor.” Roughly one in five had no health insurance and about a third had a high school education or less.
Conclusions: Migraine and severe headaches are a serious public health issue in the United States, with the highest impact in women of childbearing age and those of lower socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic disadvantages also are highly prevalent among those with headaches. The economic consequences of the current coronavirus pandemic are likely to exacerbate all of these inequities. Increased attention to this high impact chronic pain condition, and improved funding for treatment provision and research, are warranted to reduce the future burden of disease.
Keywords: determinants of health; epidemiology; headache; migraine; prevalence; socioeconomic.
© 2020 American Headache Society.
Similar articles
- The prevalence and burden of migraine and severe headache in the United States: updated statistics from government health surveillance studies.Burch RC, Loder S, Loder E, Smitherman TA.Headache. 2015 Jan;55(1):21-34. doi: 10.1111/head.12482.PMID: 25600719 Review.
- The Prevalence and Impact of Migraine and Severe Headache in the United States: Figures and Trends From Government Health Studies.Burch R, Rizzoli P, Loder E.Headache. 2018 Apr;58(4):496-505. doi: 10.1111/head.13281. Epub 2018 Mar 12.PMID: 29527677
- The prevalence, impact, and treatment of migraine and severe headaches in the United States: a review of statistics from national surveillance studies.Smitherman TA, Burch R, Sheikh H, Loder E.Headache. 2013 Mar;53(3):427-36. doi: 10.1111/head.12074. Epub 2013 Mar 7.PMID: 23470015 Review.
- The prevalence, burden, and treatment of severe, frequent, and migraine headaches in US minority populations: statistics from National Survey studies.Loder S, Sheikh HU, Loder E.Headache. 2015 Feb;55(2):214-28. doi: 10.1111/head.12506. Epub 2015 Feb 3.PMID: 25644596 Review.
- Sex differences in the prevalence, symptoms, and associated features of migraine, probable migraine and other severe headache: results of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study.Buse DC, Loder EW, Gorman JA, Stewart WF, Reed ML, Fanning KM, Serrano D, Lipton RB.Headache. 2013 Sep;53(8):1278-99. doi: 10.1111/head.12150. Epub 2013 Jun 28.PMID: 23808666 Clinical Trial.
Cited by 1 article
- Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial.Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Faurot KR, MacIntosh B, Horowitz M, Keyes GS, Yuan ZX, Miller V, Lynch C, Honvoh G, Park J, Levy R, Domenichiello AF, Johnston A, Majchrzak-Hong S, Hibbeln JR, Barrow DA, Loewke J, Davis JM, Mannes A, Palsson OS, Suchindran CM, Gaylord SA, Mann JD.BMJ. 2021 Jun 30;374:n1448. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n1448.PMID: 34526307 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
References
REFERENCES
- Chen H, Chen G, Zheng X, Guo Y. Contribution of specific diseases and injuries to changes in health adjusted life expectancy in 187 countries from 1990 to 2013: retrospective observational study. BMJ. 2019;27(364):l969.
Editor do blog: Julio Pereira – Neurocirugião – São Paulo CRM/SP 163.113 Site para Consulta: https://www.julio-pereira.com/ Consultório: (11)99503-8838 (WhatsApp) / (11)4200-2300 Atuando no Hospital Sírio-Libanês e na BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo.
CONFIRA NOSSOS SITES:
Cirurgia de Coluna
Tumor Cerebral
Aneurisma Cerebral
Radiocirurgia
Neuro Cancer
WeNeuro