Migraine prevalence, migraine incidence and migraine drug prescriptions in primary care in the capital region of Iceland

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The study aim was to describe migraine incidence over the ten-year periods, 2000-2009 and 2010-2019, in individuals aged 10-79 years in primary healthcare centre (PHCC) Sólvangur and Fjörður, Hafnarfirði. Another aim was to estimate migraine prevalence in primary care clinics in the capital area of Iceland over the period 2010-2019 and describe prescriptions for migraine specific drugs and other drugs used for migraine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study based on data from medical records from the primary care clinics of the capital region of Iceland. The cohort consisted of individuals aged 10-79 years who were diagnosed with migraine, G43 according to the ICD-10 classification system. RESULTS: Migraine incidence at age 10-79 years over the ten-year period 2000-2009 at the primary care clinic Sólvangur was estimated 3.4 cases per 1000 person-years, during the period 2010-2019 in both Sólvangur and Fjörður clinics migraine incidence was estimated 2.9 cases per 1000 person-years. Increase was shown between the two periods in prescriptions of triptan drugs, opioids, and beta-blockers, where two-thirds of the migraineurs got prescription over the two periods. Women were three times more likely to be diagnosed with migraine than men, but men were diagnosed at younger age than women. Migraine prevalence at age 10-79 years in PHCCs in the capital area of Iceland was 4.4% over the period 2010-2019. CONCLUSION: Migraine prevalence in the PHCCs of the capital area of Iceland was only one third of migraine prevalence in the population-based cohort pilot study Heilsusaga Íslendinga. Increase in opioid drug prescriptions for individuals diagnosed with migraine is of concern and needs further study.