Migraine ‘chronification’

As shown on the slide, as migraine days become more numerous and frequent, the potential recovery time between attacks is reduced, and the impairments to functioning and quality of life become more severe. Roughly 3% of people with episodic migraine are thought to progress to chronic migraine per year.^{[Bigal & Lipton, 2008; Bigal & Lipton, 2011; Katsarava et al., 2012]}

A systematic review of migraine progression identified 17 publications of risk factors for migraine progression – 13 longitudinal cohort studies and 4 case-control studies.^{[Buse et al., 2019]} Risk factors for progression and ‘chronification’ included increased headache day frequency, the presence of depression, and medication overuse or high use of medication.^{[Buse et al., 2019]}

References:
Bigal ME, Lipton RB. The prognosis of migraine. Curr Opin Neurol 2008; 21 (3): 301–308.

Bigal ME, Lipton RB. Migraine chronification. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2011; 11 (2): 139–148.

Buse DC, Greisman JD, Baigi K, Lipton RB. Migraine progression: a systematic review. Headache 2019; 59 (3): 306–338.

Katsarava Z, Buse DC, Manack AN, Lipton RB. Defining the differences between episodic migraine and chronic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2012; 16 (1): 86–92.

Other references used on slide:
Bigal ME, Lipton RB. Clinical course in migraine: conceptualizing migraine transformation. Neurology 2008; 71 (11): 848–855.

Lipton RB et al. Managing Migraine: A Healthcare Professional’s Guide to Collaborative Migraine Care. Hamilton, Ontario: Baxter Publishing Inc; 2008. Pg. 25.

Torres-Ferrús M, Ursitti F, Alpuente-Ruiz A, et al. From transformation to chronification of migraine: pathophysiological and clinical aspects. J Headache Pain 2020; 21 (1): 42.