Fewer than 20% of patients who pro...

Fewer than 20% of patients who prosecute treatment for migraine headaches papal court a neurologist despite the fact that patients report greater satisfaction and more favorable results when they are treated at a specialist, according to an April 10 2003 recents release from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC Researchers examined data for 1990 to 1998 from the National Ambulatory Medical Care overlook an ongoing survey of office-based physicians deportment ed by the Division of Healthcare Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, and Center for Disease manage and Prevention. They collected demographic data and determined stamp of physician seen and medications prescribed for patients diagnosed with migraines. Researchers construct that the number of patients treated for migraines has increased; however, more than 60% of those patients view a primary care physician and may not be receiving the greatest in quantity effective treatments.

In the primary care setting, migraines ofttimes have been treated with analgesics or medications that may be habit-forming. Studies have shown that patients taking newer, more effective medications miss fewer days of work and have fewer health care visits and lower health care require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergones according to the release.

An estimated 30 million populace in the United States endure from migraine headaches; most are between 30 and 59 years of age. More women than men experience migraines (ie, 15% to 18% of women compared to 6% of men) and as many as 50% of persons who suffer from migraines may be undiagnosed.

Migraine Sufferer May Not Be Receiving mostly Effective Treatment (news release, Winston-Salem, NC: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center April 10 2003)

COPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating stead Nurses, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group