Migraine Sufferers Have Lower Annual Incomes

Results of The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study (AMPP) was presented at The 2010 European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress (EHMTIC) on October 29, 2010. This study found those with Chronic Migraine (greater that or equal to 15 days per month) are more likely to have annual household incomes below $30,000 vs. those with Episodic Migraine (less than 15 days per month).

The AAMP is the largest Migraine study every conducted. Questionaires were mailed to 163,000 participants beginning in 2004 and 24,000 of them were followed annually through 2009. Income statistics were acquired from 6,927 participants – 373 Chronic Migraineurs and 6,554 with Episodic Migraines. The results show 38.3% of Chronic Migraineurs and 26.5% of Episodic Migraineurs had annual household incomes of less than $30,000.

To assist in determining Migraine and Headache impact on daily life, participants in 2009 used The Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). This test helps

measures the burden of headache in areas including work, school, social life and feeling such as fatigue, irritability and difficulty with concentration over the previous month.

Scores on this test range from 36-78. You can take this test online by visiting The Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). For a paper copy, and to see the questions click  HERE,

Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Montefiore Headache Center in Bronx, NY, study co-investigator Dawn C. Buse, PhD said,

These results reinforce the fact that the impact of headache is most significant among persons with chronic migraine when compared to persons with episodic migraine. In addition, we find that headache impact is predicted by headache pain intensity, severity of associated symptoms, and the presence of depression.

Richard B. Lipton, MD, study co-investigator, Professor of Neurology at Einstein and Director of Montefiore adds,

...chronic migraine, its symptoms, and comorbidities including depression and anxiety are very treatable. (He) advises, “Persons living with chronic migraine should speak with a knowledgeable health care professional about available treatments.

A research grant to the National Headache Foundation from Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. funded the AMPP. Additional analysis were supported by Allergan, Inc.