PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND PRODUCTIVITY LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH MIGRAINE: A REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE ANALYSIS USING A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE US COHORT
Author(s)
Ian Taylor, B.S.1, Patrick Sullivan, PhD2;
1Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 2Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
1Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 2Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the real-world impact of migraine on missed workdays, functional activity limitations, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the MEPS database was conducted. Patients with migraine were identified via ICD-10-CM code G43. Outcomes included annual missed workdays, activity limitations (work, school, home), and perceived physical and mental health status. MEPS survey weights were applied to generate population-level estimates. Differences in median missed workdays were evaluated using a survey-weighted Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Comparative analyses utilized Rao-Scott Chi-square tests to account for the stratified, multistage cluster sampling design.
RESULTS: There were 374 individuals with migraine and 18,545 without. Individuals with migraine were predominantly female (74.2%) with a mean age of 46.5 years. Migraine was associated with a three-fold increase in median annual missed days (3 vs. 1; p < 0.001). Activity limitations were twice as prevalent in the migraine group (14.8% vs. 7.8%; p <0.001). A significant "wellness gap" was identified: individuals with migraine were much less likely to report “Excellent” physical health (13.4% vs. 30.2%; p < 0.001) and twice as likely to report “Poor” physical health (5.1% vs. 2.4%; p < 0.001) compared to those without. Mental health outcomes followed a similar trajectory, with lower rates of “Excellent” status (18.6% vs. 33.7%; p < 0.001) and higher rates of “Poor” status (4.2% vs. 1.8%; p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Migraine imposes a significant deleterious impact on work productivity, ability to function and perform normal activities, and physical and mental well-being. These results suggest that current management strategies may be insufficient to maintain baseline productivity and quality of life and highlight an opportunity for payers and employers to prioritize migraine-specific interventions to mitigate work loss and improve patient well-being.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the MEPS database was conducted. Patients with migraine were identified via ICD-10-CM code G43. Outcomes included annual missed workdays, activity limitations (work, school, home), and perceived physical and mental health status. MEPS survey weights were applied to generate population-level estimates. Differences in median missed workdays were evaluated using a survey-weighted Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Comparative analyses utilized Rao-Scott Chi-square tests to account for the stratified, multistage cluster sampling design.
RESULTS: There were 374 individuals with migraine and 18,545 without. Individuals with migraine were predominantly female (74.2%) with a mean age of 46.5 years. Migraine was associated with a three-fold increase in median annual missed days (3 vs. 1; p < 0.001). Activity limitations were twice as prevalent in the migraine group (14.8% vs. 7.8%; p <0.001). A significant "wellness gap" was identified: individuals with migraine were much less likely to report “Excellent” physical health (13.4% vs. 30.2%; p < 0.001) and twice as likely to report “Poor” physical health (5.1% vs. 2.4%; p < 0.001) compared to those without. Mental health outcomes followed a similar trajectory, with lower rates of “Excellent” status (18.6% vs. 33.7%; p < 0.001) and higher rates of “Poor” status (4.2% vs. 1.8%; p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Migraine imposes a significant deleterious impact on work productivity, ability to function and perform normal activities, and physical and mental well-being. These results suggest that current management strategies may be insufficient to maintain baseline productivity and quality of life and highlight an opportunity for payers and employers to prioritize migraine-specific interventions to mitigate work loss and improve patient well-being.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE245
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
SDC: Neurological Disorders