An epidemiological study of migraine with aura in the San Severo general population: a pilot research project of cooperation between neurologists and general practitioners.

OBJECTIVES

(A) To define the lifetime prevalence of migraine with aura (MA) in patients recruited in general practices for an epidemiologic study by the University of Parma Headache Centre from the general population of San Severo, Italy, and (B) to assess the recognition of MA in general practice.

METHODS

The study was conducted over a period of 5 consecutive months (January to May 2001) on patients aged 18-65, taken from the following general practice populations: (a) from the patient population of 4 general practitioners (GPs; 3,616 patients) and (b) from the patient population of 12 GPs (12,996 patients). The clinical diagnosis of MA was subsequently confirmed by a headache specialist.

RESULTS

For objective A, 648 patients (420 women and 228 men) were interviewed; MA diagnosis was confirmed in 10 patients (7 women and 3 men), lifetime MA prevalence being 1.5%. For objective B, 150 'suspected' MA cases (96 women and 54 men) were reported by the 12 GPs; however, the diagnosis of MA was confirmed in only 3 cases (2 women and 1 man).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of MA observed in our small sample of the general practice patient population was comparable with that observed in the general population of San Severo, Italy. The results also suggest that GPs may be overestimating the number of cases of MA in their patient population.