Migraine Statistics
These statistics were reported by the Migraine Trust:
Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the developed world. It is more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined – eight million people in the UK have migraine
Migraine is a condition of recurring headaches that may be linked with other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and eyesight changes.
Key facts and figures about migraine:
- Among adults of all ages, migraine is one of the top 20 causes of disability expressed as years of healthy life lost to disability (The World Health Report 2001, WHO)
- Severe migraine attacks are classified by the World Health Organisation as among the most disabling illnesses, comparable to dementia, quadriplegia and active psychosis (Shapiro & Goadsby, Cephalalgia, September 2007)
- Migraine is the least publicly funded of all neurological illnesses relative to its economic impact (Shapiro & Goadsby, Cephalalgia, September 2007)
- In the UK, there are an estimated 190,000 migraine attacks every day (Steiner et al, Cephalalgia, 2003)
- An estimated 25 million days are lost from work or school because of migraine (Steiner et al, Cephalalgia, 2003)
- Just over a third (34.3%) of migraine sufferers face difficulties or discrimination at work because of their condition (The Migraine Trust, 2004)
- Over half (54%) of migraineurs experience one or more attacks per month, and 13% claim one or more attacks per week (Steiner et al, Cephalalgia, 2003)
- Women are more likely to have migraine attacks than men – 18% of women and 8% of men (Steiner et al, Cephalalgia, 2003)
- Children can get migraine attacks too. Attacks can start at any age, but they usually start in children who are in their early to mid teens (Goadsby et al, New England Journal of Medicine, 2002)
- A survey of neurologists found that up to one-third of all patients consulted because of headache – more than for any other complaint (WHO, Factsheet 277, March 2004)
- Depression is three times more common in people with migraine or severe headaches than in healthy individuals (WHO, Factsheet 277, March 2004)
- Migraine remains undiagnosed and undertreated in at least 50% of patients, and less than 50% of migraine patients consult a physician (Pavone, Banfi, Vaiani & Panconesi, Cephalalgia, September 2007)
This fact sheet was produced by the Education Department at The Migraine Trust. The information in this fact sheet has been read and checked for accuracy and relevance by headache professionals and people living with migraine.
SOURCE: http://www.migrainetrust.org/C2B/document_tree/ViewADocument.asp?ID=43&CatID=28
These facts are available as a factsheet here: http://www.migrainetrust.org/module_images/FactSheet8Facts.pdf
Comment from P Reiff
Time June 7, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I was looking up statistics to see if migraines are more prevalent in the UK than in say France/Holland/Germany. I wanted to know this because I suspect (from my own experience) their high protein breakfasts staves off migraine attacks. In the UK for instance we go right through from our last meal in the evening until lunch time before eating more protein. (breakfasts are bread, cereals and fruit in the UK). Does protein stimulate/produces something or slow something down that ultimately ends in the migraine. ?