OBJECTIVES: Migraine and other headache disorders are among the most prevalent and incapacitating diseases worldwide. Despite, they remain largely underrecognized as important public health issues in many countries. We aimed to estimate the fiscal-economic burden of migraine using an Argentinian government perspective.

METHODS: A mechanistic model estimating the impact of migraine on productivity, need for government benefit transfers, and public healthcare utilization was adapted to the Argentinian context. Those affected by migraine were compared to demographically identical individuals from the general population (GP). Results were reported annually for the entire Argentinian population with prevalent migraine in 2023 (cross-sectional population model), and cumulatively after following 40-year-old individuals over a 20-year period (longitudinal model). Longitudinal results were discounted annually at 3%. Local inputs were used, and costs were expressed in 2023 US Dollars (1 US$ = 376 AR$).

RESULTS: Migraine increased unemployment, absenteeism rates, disability, and early retirement compared to the GP, representing an annual excess fiscal burden of US$488M, 0.07% of the gross domestic product and 2.5% of the country’s public healthcare expenditure. A year lived with average migraine severity was estimated to cost the Argentinian government US$739 per person, and US$1,991 for those with chronic migraine. Healthcare costs represented 66.6% of all fiscal losses, while foregone tax revenue and public sector absenteeism accounted for 16.9% and 15.9%, respectively. Migraine mainly impacts women, who represent 75.1% of all prevalent cases. Over a 20-year period, cumulative fiscal losses associated with an average patient added to US$6,505, and to US$21,670 in chronic migraine patient. Approximately 51% and 57% of these costs were due to absenteeism, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Migraine is a major public health problem with significant economic impact to the Argentinian government. This analysis highlights the hidden burden of migraine with the aspiration of improving recognition and management of this often-neglected condition.