Consulting, diagnosis and treatment patterns in migraine: results from the Migraine in Poland cross-sectional survey.

Background: The Migraine in Poland study is a cross-sectional survey that assesses symptomatology, consulting, diagnosis, treatment and impact of migraine in Poland. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to define patterns of care for migraine in Polish patients. Methods: The survey was conducted from August 2021 to June 2022. Participants were recruited through various channels, targeting mostly persons suffering from headaches. The web survey included questions allowing for diagnosis according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders. A detailed questionnaire evaluated healthcare system utilization, history of diagnosis, as well as the use of acute or preventive treatment, including non-pharmacological methods. Results: In total, 3225 individuals aged 13-80 (mean age 38.9) responded to the questionnaire (87.1% were women). Migraine without aura (MwoA) diagnosis was confirmed in 1679 (52.7%) of subjects, and 1571 (93.6%) of them consulted a medical professional for their headaches in the past. Among those who consulted for headache, 91% reported having received a medical diagnosis of migraine. 92.5% of MwoA participants declared the current use of some form of treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen were the most frequently used acute medications ( Conclusion: Despite high consultation and diagnosis rates among Polish patients with migraine, there is a need for improving standards of care, especially in regard to choice of treatment. There is also a need to raise public awareness of the dangers of codeine-based medications (available over-the-counter in Poland).