The multinational impact of migraine symptoms on healthcare utilisation and work loss

Objective: To compare self reported healthcare resource utilisation, paid w ork loss, unpaid work loss and loss of effectiveness at work due to migrain e in a clinic-based adult migraine population. Methods: The Migraine Background Questionnaire(C) (MBQ) was translated and pilot-tested for use in 25 countries. The questionnaire was then self-admin istered by patients at a screening visit for 3 phase III clinical trials of rizatriptan [a selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) 5-HT1B/1D recepto r agonist] in 23 US and 78 non-US sites. Participants: Persons 18 to 65 years of age with at least a 6-month history of moderate to severe migraines prior to the screening visit were surveyed . Results: A total of 2670 persons (54.7% Europe. 16.5% Latin America, 23.1% North America, 5.5% other countries) completed the MBQ and had responses wh ich could be analysed. On average, each patient reported 2.78 doctor visits , 0.53 emergency room visits and 0.06 hospitalisations related to migraine per year. Patients self-reported being only 46% effective while on the job with migraine symptoms. Extrapolation of patient self-reported work and pro ductivity loss for the last 4 weeks to an annual basis suggested that clini c-based patients with migraine lose 19.5 workday equivalents (8.3 days due to absenteeism, 11.2 days due to reduced workday equivalents) due to migrai ne per year. In the US, the annual employer cost of this total migraine-rel ated work loss is estimated to be $US3309 (2000 values) per patient with mi graine. The levels of self-reported healthcare resources utilised for migra ine and work loss were generally consistent across geographic regions. Conclusions: The impact of migraine symptoms on healthcare resource utilisa tion and work loss was similar across most measures in Europe, Latin Americ a, North America and other countries. Total migraine-related work loss due to absenteeism and reduced workday equivalents accounts for most of the eco nomic burden of migraine, regardless of country, in a clinic-based migraine population.