[Migraine-diagnosis and treatment in family practice]

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with migraine at the Solvangur Health Care Center in Hafnarfjordur.

Information about all those who had been diagnosed with migraine (ICD-9 346.0-346.9 and ICD-10 G43.0-G43.9) during the period from 1990 to 2000 at the Solvangur Health Care Center was gathered rectrospectively. The data was collected from November 2004 to may 2005.

A total of 490 individuals had been diagnosed with migraine during the study period. The prevalence being just above 2%. Almost one fourth of the patients had symptoms for decades before the diagnosis was made. At diagnosis 15% had 2-4 attacks per month and approximately 8% had five or more attacks per month. One fifth of the patients had migraine with aura. 25% of the patients had been diagnosed with depression and 20% had some form of anxiety. One third of the patients had been investigated with CT of the brain, and nearly 90% received drug prescription for their migraine.

We conclude that only part of patients with migraine are being diagnosed and treated by their family physicians. Large proportions of these patients are being investigated by CT which is rarely needed to make the diagnosis. Most of the patients are being treated with drugs and half of the patients are receiving treatment with triptans. With more decisive diagnosis we could be able to reduce use of computerized tomography and in that way reduce cost.