By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

The United Kingdom has a “broken healthcare system” that leaves millions of migraine sufferers without treatment or a proper diagnosis, according to a new study.

The report by The Migraine Trust estimates that one in every seven people in the UK – about ten million -- suffer from migraine attacks. Most say they haven’t been officially diagnosed by a doctor and have never seen a headache specialist.

Those who have been diagnosed often have trouble getting a new class of drugs to prevent migraine -- calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors – even though the medications have been approved for use by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

“My migraine has never been managed properly by the NHS. I’ve suffered for 13 years and they’ve increasingly become worse each year. I’m bed bound at least once a week,” a migraine sufferer told the charity. “I visit my GP regularly and they send me away with a different drug to try for another year before I can be considered for another. I asked for a referral to the migraine clinic and was refused by my doctor.”

The Migraine Trust filed Freedom of Information requests with nearly a hundred NHS healthcare systems in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and found that only a few were giving eligible patients access to CGRP treatment.

“There is clearly a postcode lottery of care where only the lucky few can access a treatment which has proven transformational for many migraine patients,” Rob Music, CEO of The Migraine Trust, said in a statement. “This should be such an exciting and positive time for those needing migraine care, but right now this lack of access is leading to continued poor health and deep frustration.” 

CGRP inhibitors have been available in the United States since 2018, including a drug recently approved for both migraine prevention and treatment. The medications – which block a protein released during migraine attacks from binding to nerve receptors in the brain – are not cheap. Eight tablets of Nurtec, for example, cost nearly $1,000. 

Not treating migraines can be costly as well. The Migraine Trust estimates that lack of adequate migraine treatment in the UK results in 16,500 emergency admissions and 43 million lost workdays every year.  

The charity says migraine attacks also have a negative impact on the lives of migraine sufferers. In surveys, nearly a third said migraines negatively affect their mental and physical health. About one in four said migraines disrupt their family and social life. 

The pandemic has also taken a toll on migraine patients, with 68% saying their symptoms have worsened. Some reported it was because of stress, some because their lifestyle was harder to manage, and others because they couldn’t access the treatment they had been receiving. An increase in computer screen time during the pandemic also contributed to worsening migraine attacks.    

The Migraine Trust recommends that everyone seeing a doctor for head pain should be assessed for migraine and receive an individualized care plan. More headache specialists and neurologists should also be recruited to bring the UK in line with other European nations. The Trust called for public awareness campaigns to improve understanding of migraine symptoms and reduce the stigma associated with migraine. 

About a billion people worldwide suffer from migraine headaches, which affect three times as many women as men. In addition to headache pain, migraine can cause nausea, blurriness or visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound.