Neuropediatrics 2025; 56(S 01): S1-S24
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812157
Varia

Administrative Epidemiology and Treatment Patterns of Paediatric Migraine: Results from a Retrospective Claims Data Analysis

Authors

  • G. Goßrau

    1   University Comprehensive Pain Centre, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany

  • S. N. May

    2   Teva GmbH, Ulm, Germany

  • B. Höfer

    1   University Comprehensive Pain Centre, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
    3   Neurological Rehabilitation Centre for Children and Adolescents, Bavaria Clinics, Zscheckwitz/Kreischa, Germany

  • E. Albessard

    2   Teva GmbH, Ulm, Germany

  • P. Bittigau

    4   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital, Berlin, Germany
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Background/Purpose: Evidence on the prevalence and incidence of migraine in paediatric patients in Germany is scarce and outdated. Data on prescription/treatment patterns of acute and preventive medication in actual clinical practice in paediatric patients is lacking for Germany. The aim of this study was to identify the diagnostic prevalence and incidence of migraine in Germany in a paediatric population; to describe paediatric migraine patients in terms of clinical characteristics, focus on prescribed medications, and identification of treatment patterns.

Methods: This was a retrospective claims data study based on the InGef research database with around 8.8 M individuals extracted from the statutory health insurance funds to examine administrative epidemiology and characteristics of paediatric migraine patients aged 6 to 17 years between 2018 and 2023. Migraine patients were identified by primary or secondary inpatient diagnosis, or M2Q criteria using ICD-10 GM code G43.

Results: In 2023, the diagnostic prevalence of migraine in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 in this study was 0.77% of the German paediatric population, with higher values in the ages of 12 to 17 (1.25%) vs. 6 to 11 years (0.36%). Of these patients, 43.90% received at least one acute medication, with 32.04% taking ibuprofen, followed by nasal sumatriptan (10.27%). Only 5.35% received a prophylactic treatment, including amitriptyline (off-label; 1.46%), metoprolol (off-label; 1.34%), magnesium (1.17%), topiramate (off-label; 0.69%), propranolol (0.68%), flunarizine, and valproate (both off-label; 0.25% each).

Conclusion: This study shows a low diagnostic prevalence of paediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years with migraine in Germany. While nearly half receive acute treatment, preventive therapies authorized for use in paediatric patients are rare, and there is a lack of standard treatment. These findings underline the need for improved diagnosis and evidence-based preventive management in this population.



Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. September 2025

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