Over 200,000 people in Málaga suffer from migraine, with around 65,000 experiencing it chronically. The annual cost per patient reaches €6,704, of which 90% is due to lost work productivity.
Migraine affects more than 200,000 people in the province of Málaga, of which about 65,000 suffer from the chronic form, according to estimates from experts and medical societies reported by Diario Sur. In Spain, five million are affected, with one million having the chronic type, of which 80% are women.
The economic impact is significant: the disease generates an estimated annual cost of €6,704 per patient, of which 90% corresponds to indirect costs resulting from absenteeism and, above all, presenteeism at work. The Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) estimates a 35.8% average loss of productivity among working patients.
Migraine is a neurological disorder that causes recurrent episodes of intense and disabling headaches. It is considered episodic if there are fewer than 15 days of pain per month and chronic if there are 15 or more.
Dr. Roberto Belvís, coordinator of the SEN Headache Study Group, points out that there are treatments capable of changing patients' lives, but many do not have access to them: "The vast majority of those who could benefit from them are not accessing these medications." He attributes this situation to underdiagnosis and administrative barriers that limit access to the most innovative treatments.
In Spain, there have been six anti-CGRP medications available since 2019, but their prescription is subject to stricter funding criteria than those of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). While the EMA allows their use from four days of migraine per month, the National Health System requires at least eight days monthly and prior failure with three different preventive treatments.
The SEN, the Spanish Association of Migraine and Headaches (AEMICE), and the Spanish Headache Foundation (FECEF) sent a joint letter to the Ministry of Health a few months ago requesting the removal of these restrictions. The government has rejected the request.
More than 40% of patients are undiagnosed and the delay can exceed six years. Twenty-five percent have never consulted a doctor about their condition. 48.9% have some degree of disability and one in five suffers from it severely. Almost four in ten show moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
The consumption of healthcare resources is also high: within six months, 68.4% have visited their primary care doctor, 14.2% have seen a neurologist, 45.6% have gone to emergency services, and 11.8% have been hospitalised.
Dr. José Antonio Reyes, a neurologist at Vithas Xanit Internacional, explains that the disease is characterised by episodes of intense pain that may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, and even significant limitations in daily activities.
Dr. Ana Jimeno, a neurologist at Vithas Granada and the Vithas Neurosciences Institute, recommends maintaining regular sleep schedules, exercising regularly, and following a healthy diet, with a Mediterranean-style pattern rich in plant foods, legumes, nuts, and blue fish.
Dr. Pedro Serrano, head of the Neurology Service at Hospital Vithas Málaga, points out that, although there is a genetic predisposition, crises are often triggered by stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, alcohol or caffeine consumption, and abrupt changes in routines. "Each patient has their own triggers, so identifying them and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is essential," he states.
Specialists emphasise the importance of early diagnosis and personalised treatment to control the disease and reduce crises. They recommend consulting a neurologist and avoiding self-medication.
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