IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE WITH SUMATRIPTAN TREATMENT FOR MIGRAINE

Background. The debilitating effects of migraine might be reduced in p atients using an effective migraine medication. The serotonin (5HT(1)) receptor agonist sumatriptan has been shown in clinical trials to all eviate headache and associated symptoms in the majority of patients tr eated. Methods. Three hundred forty-four (344) patients with migraine were allowed to treat an unlimited number of migraine attacks for up t o 24 months with subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg). Open-label oral suma triptan (100 mg) could be used between 1 hour and 24 hours after the i nitial injection for treatment of recurrent or persistent headache. On four occasions during the treatment period, patients completed the Me dical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey, a general health sta tus instrument; the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, a disease-specific instrument; and a series of questions designed to me asure the impact of migraine on productivity and disability. Results. Treatment with sumatriptan was associated with significant (P<.05) imp rovements relative to baseline in three of the Short Form-36 Health Su rvey quality-of-life dimensions (Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptio ns, and Social Functioning) and three of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire dimensions (Role Function-Restrictive, Role Fun ction-Preventive, and Emotional Function). Significant (P<.05) improve ments in patient-rated productivity and reductions in patient-rated di sability also occurred during the trial. Conclusions. Patients using s umatriptan to treat migraines for up to 24 months experienced improvem ents in disability and productivity as well as in health-related quali ty of life as measured either by a general health status instrument or a disease-specific instrument.