Migraine Treatment Practices in Japan
Author Information
Author(s): Takizawa Tsubasa, Kitano Takahiro, Togo Kanae, Yoshikawa Reiko, Iijima Masahiro
Primary Institution: Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Hypothesis
The study aims to describe real-world clinical practice and treatment patterns in Japanese patients with migraine according to medical facilities and physicians’ specialties.
Conclusion
Only half of patients with migraine consulted specialists for their first diagnosis, and specialists are more likely to prescribe migraine-specific and preventive treatments than nonspecialists.
Supporting Evidence
- The majority of patients (81.8%) received their first prescriptions of migraine treatment at clinics.
- 95.6% of patients received acute treatment while 21.8% received preventive treatment.
- Imaging tests were performed in 42.5% of patients before and after the initial diagnosis.
Takeaway
This study shows that many people with migraines in Japan don't see specialists when they first get help, which means they might not get the best treatment.
Methodology
A retrospective cohort study using anonymized claims data from JMDC Inc. covering patients diagnosed with migraine from January 2018 to June 2023.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on claims data and the possibility of misclassification of specialists.
Limitations
The study did not present treatment patterns for migraine stratified by severity and type of migraine, and data on over-the-counter drug use were not recorded.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of patients was 38.8 years (SD 11.8), with 65.3% being female.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website