The course of frequent episodic migraine in a large headache clinic population: a 12-year retrospective follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Despite its high prevalence, little is known about the clinical course of migraine. Presented here are the findings of a 12-year follow-up study involving patients diagnosed at baseline with frequent episodic migraine.


OBJECTIVE
The main objectives were to determine the long-term outcome of patients with frequent episodic migraine and to identify factors predictive of a favorable vs less favorable prognosis.


METHODS
A total of 374 subjects (200 women, 174 men) were selected randomly from a total population of 2812 patients initially diagnosed before December 31, 1996, with episodic migraine and at baseline experiencing 1 to 6 attacks per month. Their subsequent migraine course was evaluated via telephone interviews conducted between 2005 and 2006.


RESULTS
Migraine attacks had ceased in 110 (29%) of the 374 patients (57 women and 53 men). The remaining 264 subjects continued to experience migraine attacks at follow-up, and a change in attack frequency was reported by 80% (of whom 80% reported fewer attacks). Sixty-six percent reported a change in pain intensity over time, and of these 83% reported milder pain. Only 6 subjects (6/374 = 1.6%) had developed chronic migraine.


CONCLUSIONS
These data from a headache clinic population suggest that migraine has a favorable prognosis in most patients. Whether the findings reflect the natural history of the disorder or interval improvements in headache management remains conjectural.
Dahlöf
Carl G H
CG
The Gothenburg Migraine Clinic, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Johansson
Maria
M
Casserstedt
Susanne
S
Motallebzadeh
Tina
T
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome