Evidence Hub

The epidemiology of migraine

Lipton RB, Stewart WF

European neurology, 1994

Abstract

To obtain accurate estimates of migraine prevalence, population-based studies are required. Clinic-based studies include a highly selected group of migraine sufferers. Even in population-based studies, there have been wide variations in estimates of migraine prevalence. A meta-analysis has shown that age, gender and case definition account for 70% of this variance. Recent studies using International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria have given relatively consistent estimates of migraine prevalence (about 15-18% of women and 6% of men) and indicate that migraine occurs most commonly in men and women aged 25-55 years. Migraine is a heterogeneous condition with a spectrum of severity and associated disability, and it is under-diagnosed worldwide.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free