Quality of life assessment among migraine patients treated with sumatriptan.

PURPOSE: Quality of life evaluations can enhance traditional measures of therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of sumatriptan on the quality of life of patients with migraine headaches. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Migraine patients who were given a prescription for sumatriptan completed an SF-36 questionnaire and a nine-item pain questionnaire. Six to 9 months later, patients were mailed another copy of the SF-36 and the nine-item pain questionnaire. We compared the pretreatment and posttreatment scores for the SF-36 and for each question of the nine-item pain questionnaire. RESULTS: The pretreatment SF-36 was completed by 255 patients. The pretreatment pain questionnaire was completed by 86 of these patients. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 147 patients (58%). Three of the eight SF-36 scales: role functioning--physical, bodily pain, and social functioning showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement with treatment. On the nine-item pain-specific questionnaire, three items--pain interference with normal work, ability to walk or move about, and enjoyment of life showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement after sumatriptan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Sumatriptan caused a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients with very severe migraine. This improvement was measurable by both the general quality of life instrument and the pain-specific questionnaire.

Does quality of life differ among headache diagnoses? Analysis using the medical outcomes study instrument.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the differences in quality of life associated with headache diagnoses using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-20). METHODS: A patient interview survey using the SF-20 Short Form Health Survey was conducted in a headache clinic within a multi-specialty group practice. All six health components of the SF-20 were included in the study. Headache diagnoses were made using IHS criteria. RESULTS: 208 consecutive headache patients were studied. Patients with cluster headache had a significantly higher (worse) pain score (P < 0.018) and higher percentage of patients with poor health due to pain (P < 0.005) than patients with migraine headache. There were fewer cluster patients with poor health associated with physical functioning than tension-type (P < 0.020) or mixed headache (P < 0.022) patients. Poor health associated with social functioning was greater for cluster (P < 0.011) and tension-type headache (P < 0.015) than for migraine. There was a significantly higher percentage of tension-type headache patients with poor health associated with mental health (P < 0.002) than patients with migraine. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-20 is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life for patients with different headache diagnoses. Distinct headache diagnoses are marked by unique patterns of impairment and quality of life.

Quality of life and well-being of headache patients: measurement by the medical outcomes study instrument.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form Health Survey as an indicator for quality of life in patients with chronic headaches. DESIGN: Patient interview survey. SETTING: A headache clinic within a multi-specialty group practice. PATIENTS: 208 consecutive patients seeking evaluation of headache at the above site. MEASUREMENTS: All six health components of the MOS Short Form Health Survey were included in the study. MAIN RESULTS: The MOS Short Form Health Survey was both reliable and valid in the group of patients with headache. Patients with headache had significantly worse physical, social, and role functioning, and worse mental health than did patients with chronic diseases (P < 0.0001). The functioning associated with chronic headaches was worse than that associated with major chronic medical conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, and was comparable to the level of functioning associated with recent myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The MOS survey is a reliable measure of quality of life for patients with chronic headaches. Chronic headache disorders cause significantly more morbidity and impairment of function than has previously been appreciated.