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Understanding Migraine
Migraine by the numbers
How common migraine is, how much it affects lives, and how often it goes under-treated.
4 min read · 7 research sources · Based on the Mastering Migraine courses by Dr. Adam Harcourt
If you live with migraine, you are far from alone.
How common it is
- In the United States, roughly 1 in 6 adults, and about 1 in 5 women, report migraine or severe headache over a 3-month period. Rates are highest between ages 18 and 44 1.
- Headache is consistently one of the top five reasons for emergency department visits, and the third leading cause for women of reproductive age 1.
- Worldwide, migraine affects over a billion people 2.
How much it affects lives
Migraine is the second leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide, and the leading cause in people under 50: the years when people are studying, working and raising families 3,2.
People with migraine also use more health care. One large US study found medical costs for people with migraine were about 1.7 times higher than for matched people without it 4. Repeated emergency visits, opioid use and triptan overuse are tied to higher overall health care costs 5.
How often it goes under-treated
A large European survey found that among people with frequent migraine (more than 5 days a month), fewer than 20% had seen a health professional for it, and fewer than 10% were getting adequate acute treatment 6.
Many people look beyond medication
About half of US adults with migraine or severe headache reported using at least one complementary approach, most commonly herbal supplements, massage, and chiropractic or osteopathic care 7. That is one reason it is so important to have guidance grounded in research, which is the purpose of this library.
This article is educational and does not replace a personal evaluation. Talk with your clinician before making changes to medications, supplements or diet.
Research cited on this page
- Burch R, Rizzoli P, Loder E. The Prevalence and Impact of Migraine and Severe Headache in the United States: Figures and Trends From Government Health Studies. Headache. 2018;58(4):496-505. PubMed 29527677 · DOI
- GBD 2016 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet. 2017;390(10100):1211-1259. PubMed 28919117 · DOI
- Steiner TJ, Stovner LJ, Vos T, et al. Migraine is first cause of disability in under 50s: will health politicians now take notice?. J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):17. PubMed 29468450 · DOI
- Polson M, Williams TD, Speicher LC, et al. Concomitant medical conditions and total cost of care in patients with migraine: a real-world claims analysis. Am J Manag Care. 2020;26(1 Suppl):S3-S7. PubMed 32109018 · DOI
- Bonafede M, Cai Q, Cappell K, et al. Factors Associated with Direct Health Care Costs Among Patients with Migraine. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2017;23(11):1169-1176. PubMed 29083975 · DOI
- Katsarava Z, Mania M, Lampl C, et al. Poor medical care for people with migraine in Europe – evidence from the Eurolight study. J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):10. PubMed 29392600 · DOI
- Rhee TG, Harris IM. Reasons for and perceived benefits of utilizing complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;30:44-49. PubMed 29389478 · DOI
Mastering Migraine is an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always talk with your own doctor before changing medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new treatment.
