Evaluation of pharmacoeconomic burden on migraineurs attending a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu - A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: About 25% of all neurological problems are associated with headache, making it one of the most recurring medical complaints. The most excruciating and incapacitating of all headaches, migraines have been studied for ages but are still little understood. This study was undertaken to study migraine in terms of their effect on socioeconomic burden. Our healthcare system is still behind in identifying the humanitarian burden and socioeconomic cost of this ailment, which primarily affects people while they are working and results in lost productivity/wages. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the direct and indirect costs incurred towards migraine therapy and to assess current trends to reduce the total cost. Materials and Methods: After obtaining IEC approval, 120 participants were enrolled following a critical appraisal of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected in specialized case study form and analyzed in proportion. Results: Statistical analysis showed, nearly 43% of the candidates were suffering from acute migraine. The total amount (direct and indirect) spent for medicines was rupees 1000–1600/patient/month, and an additional charge for special investigations of rupees 1000 apart from other laboratory tests. The majority about 91 patients, were admitted both for investigations and therapy for 3–6 days which further adds to the burden with greater health care costs when compared with non-migraineurs, and a larger number of female patients had a great potential loss of wages when compared with males. Conclusion: This research concludes that, since a majority of expenditures are met by the patient, better alternatives on patient and outcome perspectives to reduce the health-economic burden is the utmost need of this hour.