BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Headache disorders are very common, but their monetary costs in Europe are unknown. We performed the first comprehensive estimation of how economic resources are lost to headache in Europe. METHODS: From November 2008 to August 2009, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in eight countries representing 55% of the adult EU population. Participation rates varied between 11% and 59%. In total, 8412 questionnaires contributed to this analysis. Using bottom-up methodology, we estimated direct (medications, outpatient health care, hospitalization and investigations) and indirect (work absenteeism and reduced productivity at work) annual per-person costs. Prevalence data, simultaneously collected and, for migraine, also derived from a systematic review, were used to impute national costs. RESULTS: Mean per-person annual costs were €1222 for migraine (95% CI 1055-1389; indirect costs 93%), €303 for tension-type headache (TTH, 95% CI 230-376; indirect costs 92%), €3561 for medication-overuse headache (MOH, 95% CI 2487-4635; indirect costs 92%), and €253 for other headaches (95% CI 99-407; indirect costs 82%). In the EU, the total annual cost of headache amongst adults aged 18-65 years was calculated, according to our prevalence estimates, at €173 billion, apportioned to migraine (€111 billion; 64%), TTH (€21 billion; 12%), MOH (€37 billion; 21%) and other headaches (€3 billion; 2%). Using the 15% systematic review prevalence of migraine, calculated costs were somewhat lower (migraine €50 billion, all headache €112 billion annually). CONCLUSIONS: Headache disorders are prominent health-related drivers of immense economic losses for the EU. This has immediate implications for healthcare policy. Health care for headache can be both improved and cost saving.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Headache disorders are very common, but their monetary costs in Europe are unknown. We performed the first comprehensive estimation of how economic resources are lost to headache in Europe. METHODS: From November 2008 to August 2009, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in eight countries representing 55% of the adult EU population. Participation rates varied between 11% and 59%. In total, 8412 questionnaires contributed to this analysis. Using bottom-up methodology, we estimated direct (medications, outpatient health care, hospitalization and investigations) and indirect (work absenteeism and reduced productivity at work) annual per-person costs. Prevalence data, simultaneously collected and, for migraine, also derived from a systematic review, were used to impute national costs. RESULTS: Mean per-person annual costs were €1222 for migraine (95% CI 1055-1389; indirect costs 93%), €303 for tension-type headache (TTH, 95% CI 230-376; indirect costs 92%), €3561 for medication-overuse headache (MOH, 95% CI 2487-4635; indirect costs 92%), and €253 for other headaches (95% CI 99-407; indirect costs 82%). In the EU, the total annual cost of headache amongst adults aged 18-65 years was calculated, according to our prevalence estimates, at €173 billion, apportioned to migraine (€111 billion; 64%), TTH (€21 billion; 12%), MOH (€37 billion; 21%) and other headaches (€3 billion; 2%). Using the 15% systematic review prevalence of migraine, calculated costs were somewhat lower (migraine €50 billion, all headache €112 billion annually). CONCLUSIONS:Headache disorders are prominent health-related drivers of immense economic losses for the EU. This has immediate implications for healthcare policy. Health care for headache can be both improved and cost saving.
Authors: L M Bloudek; M Stokes; D C Buse; T K Wilcox; R B Lipton; P J Goadsby; S F Varon; A M Blumenfeld; Z Katsarava; J Pascual; M Lanteri-Minet; P Cortelli; P Martelletti Journal: J Headache Pain Date: 2012-05-29 Impact factor: 7.277
Authors: A Raggi; M Leonardi; A M Giovannetti; S Schiavolin; G Bussone; L Grazzi; S Usai; M Curone; P Di Fiore; D D'Amico Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 3.307
Authors: Jeffrey L Jackson; Josephine M Mancuso; Sarah Nickoloff; Rebecca Bernstein; Cynthia Kay Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2017-07-18 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Lars Jacob Stovner; Mohammed Al Jumah; Gretchen L Birbeck; Gopalakrishna Gururaj; Rigmor Jensen; Zaza Katsarava; Luiz Paulo Queiroz; Ann I Scher; Redda Tekle-Haimanot; Shuu-Jiun Wang; Timothy J Steiner Journal: J Headache Pain Date: 2014-01-27 Impact factor: 7.277