Aktuelle Neurologie 2005; 32 - P630
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-919661

Patient's satisfaction and compliance with usual migraine treatment in Germany: The German Migraine Register

P Stude 1, R Eisentraut 1, G Fritsche 1, A Gendolla 1, H.C Diener 1
  • 1Essen

Objective: Dimension use, patient's satisfaction and compliance of migraine drug treatments in Germany.

Methods: Patients from 157 German outpatient clinics were included between May 2003 and August 2004 in the moment of an outpatient contact, and a telephonic interview was held after 90d. Qualifying patients were diagnosed from migraine since 1y. at least and had minimum 1 migraine attack/month. Treatment satisfaction was recorded in a 5 points scale (1 very good –5 unsatisfactory).

Results: Data of 937 patients (87,2% female) have been analysed.

Characteristics of migraine: Patients suffered on migraine on average 3,4 times and 5,5 days per month.

Previous prescription: Nearly all patients (about 98%) used unspecific Analgesic and/or Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (A/AID), two third have also experience with triptans and about 10% used ergotics.

Satisfaction: Overall 70,3% of all patients were satisfied with their acute treatment (marks <=2), 24,1% were indifferent (>=2,5 & <=4) and 5,6% were not satisfied (>=4,5). Considering groups of drugs satisfaction was highest in the group of triptan users, followed by the group using triptans and A/AID and lowest in the group of A/AID (chi-square-test)

Compliance: 20% didn't follow prescriptions, ½ because of lack of effect and/or adverse events or fear of adverse events and 1/4 because of not having migraine or only mild migraine during study. Compliance in patients who were prescribed triptans was significant higher than in patients who were prescribed A/AIDs.

Conclusion: Patients consulting a doctor for their migraine suffer more from migraine than the epidemiological data suggest. In these patients A/AIDs are nearly always used for migraine, either alone or combined with triptans. When triptans are used, satisfaction and compliance improves. 80% of patients follow prescription recommendations, and those that do not, refer usually treatment lack of efficacy and/or tolerability.