Rethinking headache as a global public health case model for reaching the SDG 3 HEALTH by 2030

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Neurology
• Global Health

Background:

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) aim to improve global health and well-being.
• Headache disorders represent a significant global health burden, impacting productivity, particularly in women under 50.
• Current approaches to headache management require enhancement to align with global health objectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a headache-focused strategy for achieving SDG 3.
• To outline key actions for improving headache care and its integration into broader health initiatives.
• To emphasize the link between effective headache management and overall population health and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing current strategies for managing headache disorders.
• Identifying critical interventions for SDG 3 related to headache care.
• Analyzing the impact of headache disorders on health outcomes and productivity.

Main Results:

• Six key actions are proposed: targeting chronic headaches, reducing acute pain-reliever overuse, enhancing healthcare professional education, improving medication access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), implementing LMIC training, and building a global alliance.
• Shifting from frequency-based to severity-based parameters for defining headaches.
• Integrating multimodal management models, recognizing comorbidities, and addressing medication overuse are crucial.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable headache care is achievable through multi-stakeholder collaboration and investment.
• Addressing headache disorders contributes significantly to achieving SDG 3 targets.
• Improved headache management enhances population health, productivity, and global well-being.