Utilization and Outcomes of Pharmacologic Migraine Prophylaxis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study at TASH, Yekatit 12, and Zewditu Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2025-02-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Migraine is a common and disabling neurological disorder that significantly
impacts an individual’s quality of life. Globally, headache disorders rank third among causes of
disability, with migraine being a leading contributor. In Ethiopia, migraine accounts for 17.7% of
headache disorders, yet remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. While international studies
have highlighted gaps in migraine prophylaxis, there is limited data on its utilization and
effectiveness in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the use of pharmacologic migraine
prophylaxis and evaluate patient outcomes at specialized centers in Addis Ababa.
Methods: The study included migraine patients aged 18 years and older who were receiving
regular follow-up care in neurology outpatient departments. Data were collected from patient
records and follow-up visits between August 2024 and January 2025. A total of 90 patients were
included in the analysis, after accounting for incomplete records and non-respondents. Key
migraine-related variables, including attack frequency, pain severity, episode duration, and
emergency room visits, were collected using structured questionnaires administered through
the KoboToolbox platform. Data collection involved both in-person and phone interviews with
patients. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, with a p-value of <0.05
considered statistically significant.
Result: Among the 90 participants, 80% reported being prescribed migraine prophylactic
medications. Of those on prophylaxis, 66.7% experienced improvements in frequency, severity,
and duration of migraine attacks. Regarding treatment effectiveness, 45.8% found the
prophylactic therapy very effective, 38.8% rated it moderately effective, and 15.2% found it
ineffective. Treatment adherence was reported as good in 66.7% of patients, with 72.2%
continuing their prescribed therapy
Conclusion:This study demonstrates a high utilization of pharmacologic preventive therapy
(80%) among migraine patients at three specialized hospitals in Addis Ababa, significantly
higher than the 3-13% and 12.4% reported in international studies. Preventive therapy
effectively reduced migraine frequency, duration, and severity
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Keywords
Utilization and outcomes, pharmacologic migraine, A multicenter cross-sectional