80.8 percent of people with migraine consider that the disability associated with this neurological condition is downplayed, despite the fact that two out of three see their quality of life seriously impaired, according to the report "La migraña crónica en España: la enfermedad invisible", drawn up with the impetus of Lundbeck Iberia.
The study, based on a questionnaire of 850 people who say they suffer from chronic migraine, of whom 80 percent are women, examines how the illness affects their day-to-day life and what challenges are still present in its management. It is estimated that worldwide there are 1.3 billion migraine patients and, in Spain, around four million, more than one million of them with the chronic form.
"However, it still remains an underdiagnosed disease and, too often, it is minimized because we confuse it with a simple headache when its impact on people's quality of life goes much further," has emphasized the medical director of Lundbeck Iberia, Lluís Pujadas, during the presentation of the document.
The data collected indicate that migraine interferes with basic everyday activities (53.5%), mental health and mood (48.8%), work or academic performance (47.4%), sleep quality (41.5%) and social life and leisure (34.8%).
In the professional or studies setting, 53.2 percent indicates that their productivity has worsened and 38.7 percent acknowledges having been absent from work or class during a crisis. In addition, 15.4 percent has needed sick leave and 13.5 percent has had to give up their job temporarily or permanently.
This strong impact contrasts with the sense of invisibility that those affected express. Thus, 84.7 percent of respondents believe that migraine is confused with an ordinary headache and 80.6 percent believes that it continues to be underdiagnosed and undervalued.
(Further expansion will follow)