Health care utilization and changes in health status over time for migraineurs.
BACKGROUND
Determining how migraineurs manage their condition from the viewpoint of health resource utilization (including both medical and personal resources) may provide insights that could lead to more effective care strategies.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative importance of modifiable health-influencing activities for migraineurs, and to compare the effects of these activities between migraineurs and nonmigraineurs in the general population.


METHODS
Linear regression analysis was applied to all persons older than 19 years of age with migraine in the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1. The dependent variable was reported health status change over time. Explanatory variables were a series of health care utilization, health behaviour and background control variables.


RESULTS
Results showed that health status was positively associated with higher levels of physical activity and negatively associated with smoking for both migraineurs and nonmigraineurs, even when controlling for all other variables.


CONCLUSIONS
By modifying controllable resources and behaviours, the reported health status of migraineurs can be improved as effectively as nonmigraineurs.
Chuck
Anderson
A
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Jacobs
Philip
P
Ohinmaa
Arto
A
Schopflocher
Donald
D
Rashiq
Saifudin
S
Feroe
Racquel
R
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence