Management of migraine

Abstract

Migraine is the most common severe form of primary headache, with a global prevalence of around one in seven people. Migraine occurs in 15% of the UK adult population, and is three times more common in females than males. It is estimated that migraine costs the UK around £3 billion a year in direct and indirect costs, taking into consideration the costs of healthcare, lost productivity and disability. As a result, over 100 000 people are absent from work or school due to migraine every working day. Despite this, migraine is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.