Degree of compliance with treatment at three months in migraine patients

Abstract

Adherence to oral preventive treatment (OPT) in migraine is often compromised. The aim was to determine the degree of adherence to OPT in migraine patients at three months. We conducted a multicentre observational study of patients diagnosed with episodic or chronic migraine (criteria of the International Headache Classification, third edition) in whom OPT was initiated. Demographic data (age, gender, educational level, marital status) and disease data (number of attacks, Headache Impact Test-6 and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale scores) were collected. At three months, the Morisky-Green scale was administered, which differentiates levels of adherence: excellent (0), moderate (1-2) and low (3-4). Altogether 100 patients participated in the study: 87% women aged 42 ± 13 years, 14% with chronic migraine; 53.2% of them were beginning their first OPT. Beta-blockers were initiated in 23.2%, tricyclic antidepressants in 35.4%, flunarizine in 21.2%, neuromodulators in 19.2% and antihypertensives in 1%. Severe disability was observed in 56%, and the impact was very severe in 79.5%. Adhesion at three months was excellent in 41.8%, moderate in 28.6% and low in 29.6%. The most frequent reason for discontinuing was the occurrence of adverse effects (44%). A significant relationship was found between excellent adherence and being single (p = 0.046), and between low adherence and adverse effects (p = 0.009). No significant differences were found between the OPT used and the degree of adherence or the other variables studied. Although our results are better than those published in the literature, we consider that therapeutic adherence in our setting is low and educating our patients in this regard is a priority.