More funding for migraine research needed

While not life threatening, migraine can severerly affect quality of life and continues to cost the economy millions in reduced productivity every year, the Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI) has said.

Migraine affects over 500,000 people in this country and is characterised by a severe, one-sided headache that can last up to three days. It can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and/or noise.

According to MAI chief executive, Patrick Little, the condition has a high social cost.

"Although it is not life-threatening, it is quality of life threatening. Severe migraineurs cannot work, attend school or socialise on the days they have an attack. With attacks lasting up to 72 hours and chronic sufferers having a migraine on 15 days or more a month, migraine is clearly not just a headache for many people in Ireland," he explained.

He also pointed out that the condition costs the economy around €252 million annually in reduced productivity and lost work days. The association insisted that the failure of healthcare systems to provide effective treatment to those who need it is the most significant reason for the socio-economic burden of migraine.

These concerns were echoed at a recent meeting of migraine specialists in Madrid. The event had been organised by the European Headache Alliance to launch the Madrid Manifesto - a document calling for the better management and treatment of migraine across Europe.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Jes Olesen, founder of the European Brain Council, called for further funding from national governments.

"Only €7 million is spent across Europe on researching migraine annually and, on average, only €700,000 comes from each national government. This is absolutely nothing," he said.

Prof Olesen added that now was the ideal time to carry out research into migraine ‘as never before has so much been understood about the mechanisms of the condition'.

The MAI has backed Prof Olesen's calls for further funding and plans to bring its case before the Irish government.

"Migraine is a political issue. As the manifesto says, migraine must be recognised as a disability and those affected should receive equal protection under national and European disability and employment laws. Also, original research and epidemiological studies should be initiated and supported by the European Commission with the support of national governments, including Ireland," Mr Little said.

The manifesto also calls for the further education of health professionals with a module in headache/migraine care available in every medical training school for GPs. It also calls for a multidisciplinary approach to headache care across Europe, with at least one functioning multidisciplinary team in each country.

For more information on migraine or to see the manifesto, see the MAI's website here

[Posted: Tue 01/06/2010]