Around 190 million work days lost every year in EU because of migraine

This report has been around for a few weeks now - but what's interesting with this article is the comments from the CEO of the Migraine Association in Ireland - I was stunned to read that there is not a a current module in GP training for migraine!


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A GLOBAL STUDY into “the health, economic and social impact” of headache disorders has found that these afflictions – which include migraines – are the most common disorders in the world.

The World Health Organisation and a group called ‘Lifting the Burden: the Global Campaign against Headache’ released the study today at the European Parliament in Brussels. The study is the first of its kind, called the Atlas of Headache Disorders and Resources in the World 2011.
Based on data it received from neurologists, GPs and some patients in a large international survey carried out between October 2006 to March 2009, the survey focused on adults aged 18-65 years.

Some of its main findings include:

Headache disorders, including migraine and tension-type headaches, “are among the most prevalent disorders of mankind”.
Migraine on its own is the cause of 1.3 per cent of all years of life lost to disability.
Between half and three-quarters of adults aged 18-65 years surveyed have suffered headaches in the last year.
Women are more likely than men to suffer from headache.

Around 190 million sick days are taken in the EU every year because of migraine.

Only 12 per cent of countries that responded to the survey include headache disorders in their annual health reporting system.

Patrick Little, CEO of the Migraine Association in Ireland, said that while data suggests that between 12 and 15 per cent of Irish people have suffered from migraine at some point, the recognition of it as a condition remains a problem. He said:

One of the problems is that not all health professionals are comfortable with tackling migraine when it presents in a patient. One of the main jobs the Association has is to provide information, support and training, not just for people who suffer migraine but for health professionals too.
We’ve had some positive engagement recently with the HSE for more structured support for people with migraine. We would like to see a migraine module provided in GP training.

http://www.thejournal.ie/around-190-million-work-days-lost-every-year-in-eu-because-of-migraine-130329-May2011/