title: Migraine strikes study: factors in patients' decision to treat early.
abstract: To describe factors associated with early treatment of migraine, and to examine reasons patients do not treat early, this cross-sectional observational study email-recruited migraineurs >or= 18-years-old who were currently prescribed acute migraine medication. Within 24 h of migraine resolution, eligible patients completed an online migraine strikes questionnaire which addressed pain severity, associated symptoms, and other variables including reasons for not treating early. Results reported were descriptive. Among 1,044 evaluable patients, early treatment was significantly associated with several factors such as leisure activity at onset (OR 1.32, P=0.010), photophobia (OR 1.39, P=0.013), diagnosis of migraine with aura (OR 1.36, P=0.004), and other factors. Among 840 patients who reported wanting to treat earlier desire to reserve medication for a severe migraine was the most common reason given for not doing so (51.2%). Overcoming these factors may facilitate earlier migraine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Outcomes Research Department, Global Human Health, Merck and Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA. wendy_golden@merck.com
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000188:drug therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D020795:Photophobia / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors