Association of Migraine Comorbidities with Quality of Life, Work Productivity and Daily Activities: Survey and Medical Claims Data in Japan

Adv Ther. 2025 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s12325-025-03236-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Migraine compromises the quality of life (QOL) and work productivity and daily activities (WPAI). Among those with migraine, comorbidities are relatively common and diverse and are expected to elevate the disease burden. Most previous studies focused on specific psychiatric diseases or conditions and did not encompass common comorbidities. This study aimed to explore the association between various migraine comorbidities, migraine-specific quality of life (MSQ), and WPAI.

METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of an observational study using a pre-existing database of individuals covered by public employment-based health insurance in Japan. This analysis included respondents who participated in a previous study using online survey data (response rate 14.1% [21,704/153,545]) and linked medical claims data, and had migraine and at least 1 year of claims data. The MSQ Questionnaire version 2.1 score was compared, and the odds of having worse WPAI Questionnaire-General Health scores were explored between the subgroups with and without each comorbidity (e.g., depression, sleep disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, and schizophrenia).

RESULTS: Of the 674 respondents, a few had cerebrovascular disorders (n = 6 [0.9%]) or schizophrenia (n = 8 [1.2%]). Except for these comorbidities, the MSQ domain score was significantly lower in participants with depression (n = 43 [6.4%]) (estimated difference [95% confidence interval, CI], role function-restrictive – 6.9 [ – 13.4, – 0.5]; role function-preventive – 7.7 [ – 13.9, – 1.5]) and sleep disorders (n = 55 [8.2%]) (emotional function – 7.2 [ – 13.7, – 0.7]). The odds ratio (95% CI) for having a worse WPAI was significantly higher in those with depression (activity impairment 2.85 [1.13, 7.2]) and sleep disorders (presenteeism 3.01 [1.33, 6.8]; overall work impairment 2.84 [1.24, 6.5]).

CONCLUSION: Among the various common comorbidities, MSQ and WPAI may be worse in patients with depression and sleep disorders comorbid with migraine. In particular, the MSQ RR and RP domain score differences between those with and without comorbid depression exceeded the minimum important difference.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN ID, UMIN000050349.

PMID:40498280 | DOI:10.1007/s12325-025-03236-1