PND15 The Health and Productivity Burden of Migraines in Australia

Abstract

Migraines affect 8.5% of the Australian population of working age. Migraines not only impose a significant morbidity burden, but can impair work productivity. The present study estimated the health and productivity burden of migraines among Australians of working age, measured in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost, productivity-adjusted life years (PALYs, a novel measure of productivity) lost, healthcare expenditure and broader economic costs. A Markov state-transition model was constructed to simulate follow up of Australians currently aged 20-64 years over the next ten years. First, the model simulated the experiences of those with and without migraine using current prevalence estimates of migraine. Then, the model simulation was repeated assuming that people with migraine hypothetically did not have the condition. Differences in outcomes from the two model simulations in terms of QALYs lived, PALYs lived and costs represented the health and productivity burden attributable to migraine. All data inputs were obtained from published sources. Gross domestic product (GDP) per equivalent full-time worker in Australia was used to reflect the cost of each PALY (AUD$177,000). Future costs, QALYs and PALYs were discounted by 5% per annum. Currently, 1.18 million Australians of working age have migraine. Over the next ten years, migraine was predicted to lead to 2.49 million QALYs lost (1.95 per person), 533,000 PALYs lost (0.42 per person), $1.54 billion in direct healthcare costs ($1,205 per person) and $94.45 billion in GDP lost ($74,000 per person). Migraines impose a significant health, productivity and economic burden on Australians of working age. This highlights the need to invest in strategies to reduce the prevalence and/or effects of migraines, which are likely to provide both health and economic gains.