Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40830423›Full record

ArticleThe journal of headache and pain2025

The epidemiology, management, and the associated burden of migraine in Australian primary care: a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data.

Nicole Limberg, Jason C Ray, Benjamin Harvey, Giles Stratton, Angus Cuskelly, Charmaine S Tam, David Witcombe

Abstract read
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Article in The journal of headache and pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nicole LimbergMigraine Specialist, Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jason C RayThe Alfred Hospital, Austin Health and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4833-5507
Benjamin HarveyPfizer Australia Pty Ltd, Level 15, 151 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Benjamin.Harvey@pfizer.com.
Giles StrattonPfizer Australia Pty Ltd, Level 15, 151 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Angus CuskellyMedicalDirector (Telstra Health), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Charmaine S TamMedicalDirector (Telstra Health), Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4034-9923
David WitcombePfizer Australia Pty Ltd, Level 15, 151 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMigraine accounts for more disability than all other neurologic conditions combined. Despite this, more than 40% of people with migraine do not seek medical care. Migraine is associated with a higher risk of comorbidities, adding to the symptom burden. Currently, there is limited epidemiological data available on the prevalence and incidence of migraine in the Australian primary care setting. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology (prevalence and incidence) of diagnosed migraine within the Australian general practice population.

methodsElectronic health record data captured by national clinical practice management software over a 14-year index period (2010-2024) was analysed. The point prevalence of diagnosed migraine was estimated. The incidence of diagnosed migraine was estimated based on patients with new onset migraine during the index period. Estimates were stratified by age and sex. Differences by sociodemographic groups, patterns of treatment, and referral pathways were also evaluated.

resultsThe study encompassed a total of 37,579 eligible migraine prevalent cases. The overall adjusted point prevalence of diagnosed migraine was estimated as 7.02 per 1,000 persons (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.79 to 7.25), which equates to 0.702% after adjusting for the interaction of age and sex. The overall incidence rate (IR) was estimated as 3.48 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI 3.38 to 3.58) after adjusting for the interaction of age and sex. Depression and anxiety were reported four times more frequently in the migraine population. High use of opioids and opioid combinations (54.75%) was noted in the migraine population, as well as a lower-than-expected use of triptans (51.06%). Among those with migraine, 32.03% had been referred to a physiotherapist and 18.64% had been referred to a neurologist.

conclusionsThis is the first study to describe the IR, accounting for life-years, in the Australian general practice population. The point prevalence of diagnosed migraine and incidence were lower than population-based estimates from other regions. The findings indicate that migraines are frequently underdiagnosed in the Australian primary care setting, with a possible lack of awareness of potential presentations for migraine, including neck pain, and highlight the need for further patient and clinician education.

Indexed as

Cost of IllnessElectronic Health RecordsMigraine DisordersPrimary Health CareAdolescentAdultAgedAustraliaFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAnalgesic agentsAustraliaEpidemiologyMigraine disordersPrimary health careSerotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists

Identifiers

PMID40830423
PMCPMC12366134

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.