Interictal burden of migraine and its evaluations: a literature review

Abstract

We conducted a targeted literature review on patient burden during the interictal period of migraine. The results of the literature review revealed that: (1) migraine-associated burden persists into the interictal period and is not confined to the headache episodes themselves; (2) anxiety over the possible recurrence of headache episodes is a factor that reduces daily activities and quality of life (QOL); and (3) prophylactic treatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antibody drugs may reduce the burden during the interictal period. From these findings, it is considered important in migraine treatment to identify the unmet needs of patients, including the burden during the interictal period, and to select an appropriate treatment method based on the burden experienced by individual patients.