Patterns of initial migraine treatment in Denmark: A population-based study

PurposePopulation-based data are sparse on utilization of prophylactic versus acute therapies for newly diagnosed migraine. We examined initial migraine treatment patterns and associated patient characteristics in Denmark. MethodsWe used population-based health databases to assemble a nationwide cohort of adult migraine patients in 2005 to 2013. Migraine was defined as a first hospital diagnosis of migraine or a second redeemed outpatient prescription for triptans, ergots, pizotifen, or flunarizine. We classified the initial migraine treatment received after migraine onset as no treatment, acute only, prophylactic only, and both acute and prophylactic and described distributions of sex, age, comorbidities, and comedications. ResultsAmong 97431 migraine patients (78% women, median age of 41y [interquartile range of 32-50y]), the initial migraine treatments received were acute only (88.2%), prophylactic only (1.9%), and both acute and prophylactic (5.2%) whereas 4.6% had no record of treatment. Initiators of prophylactic treatmentwith or without acute treatmentwere less likely than initiators of acute treatment to be women (71% and 77% versus 79%), were older (median ages: 45 and 44y versus 41y), and had more comorbidities (including hypertension [31% and 24% versus 7%] and diabetes [6% and 5% versus 3%]). Nonpersistence with initial prophylactic treatment was common: within the first year, 35% of initiators stopped therapy fully, 50% stopped and restarted, and 15% switched drugs. ConclusionsFor 88% of patients with incident migraine, the initial migraine treatment was acute treatment only. Use of prophylactic medication as initial treatment was low and correlated with higher age and comorbidity.