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The Journal of Headache and Pain

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Migraine | Research

Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients with migraine: results from a retrospective database study in Japan

Authors: Tsubasa Takizawa, Takahiro Kitano, Masahiro Iijima, Kanae Togo, Naohiro Yonemoto

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Clinical characteristics and treatment practice of patients with migraine in Japan in real-world setting have not been fully investigated. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using claims database to understand the clinical practice of migraine in recent years and to characterize patients potentially not managed well by current treatment options.

Methods

Our study used data from the large claims database maintained by JMDC Inc. Patients with diagnosis of headache or migraine between January 1, 2018, and July 31, 2022, were defined as the headache cohort, and those with migraine diagnosis and prescription of migraine treatments among the headache cohort were included in the migraine cohort. In the headache cohort, characteristics of medical facilities and status of imaging tests to distinguish secondary headache were examined. Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients potentially not managed well by acute/preventive treatment were described in migraine cohort.

Results

In the headache cohort, 989,514 patients were included with 57.0% females and mean age of 40.3 years; 77.0% patients visited clinics (with ≤ 19 bed capacities) for their primary diagnosis, and 30.3% patients underwent imaging tests (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging). In the migraine cohort, 165,339 patients were included with 65.0% females and mean age of 38.8 years. In the migraine cohort, 95.6% received acute treatment while 20.8% received preventive treatment. Acetaminophen/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were most common (54.8%) as the initial prescription for migraine treatment followed by triptan (51.4%). First treatment prescription included preventive treatment in 15.6%, while the proportion increased to 82.2% in the fourth treatment prescription. Among patients with more than 12 months of follow-up, 3.7% had prescription patterns suggestive of risk of medication-overuse headache, and these patients were characterized by a higher percentage of females and a higher prevalence of comorbidities.

Conclusions

This study revealed that approximately one-fifth of the patients with migraine visiting medical facilities use preventive drugs. The presence of potential patients at risk of medication-overuse headache and the role of clinics in migraine treatment were also described.

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Title: Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients with migraine: results from a retrospective database study in Japan
Authors: Tsubasa Takizawa
Takahiro Kitano
Masahiro Iijima
Kanae Togo
Naohiro Yonemoto
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: Springer Milan
Keywords: Migraine
Medication Overuse Headache
Triptan Drugs
Headache
Paracetamol
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-024-01722-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients with migraine: results from a retrospective database study in Japan

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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