Has the prevalence of migraine changed over the last decade (2003-2012)? A Spanish population-based survey

Information on temporal trends can identify groups of people at risk for any particular condition; however information on temporal trends on migraine headache at population levels is scarce. Our aim was to estimate the time trends in the prevalence of migraine from 2003 to 2012 in Spain.

A population-based national study was conducted. We analyzed data using individualized information taken from national surveys conducted in 2003/4, 2006/7, 2009/10 and 2011/12. A total of 94,158 Spanish adults participated. We considered the presence of self-rated and diagnosed migraine, and we analyzed socio-demographic features, lifestyle habits, self-rated health status, and comorbid diseases using logistic regressions.

The prevalence of migraine increased from 6.54% in 2003 to 9.69% in 2012 with significant time trends (adj. OR 1.65; 95%CI 1.50-1.81). The probability of women of suffering migraine was 3 times higher than for men (adj.OR 3.08; 2.82-3.37). There was a declining trend in migraine prevalence as age increased (adj.OR 0.42; 0.35-0.51). Demographic variables associated with migraine were lower educational level (adj.OR 1.32; 1.13-1.54) and not being an immigrant (adj.OR 1.37; 1.15-1.64). A worse self-reported health status was related to higher prevalence of migraine (adj.OR 2.83; 2.59-3.09). The prevalence of migraine also increased as the number of comorbid conditions increased (adj.OR 2.42; 2.05-2.86).

The prevalence of migraine has increased in the first decade of the 21st century in Spain. Migraine was associated with being female, mid-age, low educational level, not being an immigrant, worse self-rated health status and presence of comorbid conditions.