Healthcare utilisation and economic burden of migraines among bank employees in China: a probabilistic modelling study.
J Headache Pain
; 25(1): 60, 2024 Apr 19.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38641794
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite the recognised high prevalence of migraines among bank employees, yet their healthcare utilisation patterns and the economic burden of migraines remain underexplored.AIM:
To examine migraine-related healthcare utilisation among bank employees in China, and to estimate the economic burden of migraines.METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Guizhou province, China between May and October 2022. The HARDSHIP questionnaire was used to identify migraine-positive individuals and enquire about their healthcare utilisation and productivity losses. A probabilistic decision-analytic model with a micro-costing approach was used to estimate the economic burden from the perspectives of the healthcare system, employers, and society. All costs were expressed in 2022 United States dollars. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.RESULTS:
Nearly half of individuals with migraines reported not seeking medical care. Only 21.8% reported seeking outpatient consultations, 52.5% reported taking medicines, and 27.1% reported using complementary therapies. Chronic migraine patients had significantly higher healthcare utilisation than episodic migraine patients. Among individuals with a monthly migraine frequency of 15 days or more, 63.6% took inappropriate treatments by excessively using acute medications. Migraines in the banking sector in Guizhou cost the healthcare system a median of $7,578.0 thousand (25th to 75th percentile $4,509.2-$16,434.9 thousand) per year, employers $89,750.3 thousand (25th to 75th percentile $53,211.6-$151,162.2 thousand), and society $108,850.3 thousand (25th to 75th percentile $67,370.1-$181,048.6 thousand). The median societal cost per patient-year is $3,078.1. Migraine prevalence and productivity losses were identified as key cost drivers.CONCLUSIONS:
The study points to the need to raise awareness of migraines across all stakeholders and to improve the organisation of the migraine care system. A substantial economic burden of migraines on the healthcare system, employers, and society at large was highlighted. These cost estimates offer evidence-based benchmarks for assessing economic savings from improved migraine management, and can also draw the attention of Chinese policymakers to prioritise migraine policies within the banking and other office-based occupations.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Financial Stress
/
Migraine Disorders
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Headache Pain
Journal subject:
MEDICINA INTERNA
/
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSICOFISIOLOGIA
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China