The relevance and application of disease management and pharmacoeconomics to migraine.
Disease management is a comprehensive approach to improving the outcomes for patients suffering from chronic disease. It has frequently been applied to diseases like diabetes and asthma but, to date, has not widely been regarded as particularly relevant to migraine. Yet a number of factors suggest that this view might usefully be reconsidered, notably the dissatisfaction with migraine control expressed by many patients and the inconsistencies in treatment patterns observed across clinical practice. Another factor is the growing range of therapeutic options available to manage the disorder. In this latter respect, decision-making must not only be governed by individual patient needs, but also by considerations of clinical cost effectiveness. Pharmacoeconomic analysis can play a useful role in determining the relative value for money offered by different treatments and is increasingly being applied in migraine. It is clear, however, that full realisation of its potential contribution requires progress to be made in a number of key areas, perhaps most importantly agreement on the definition of successful treatment.
Wells
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Department of Outcomes Research, Pfizer Central Research, Europe.
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal