Recurrent migraines can be functionally disabling and can impair quality of life. The disabling nature of migraine headaches leads to frequent visits to outpatient clinics and emergency department facilities, causing significant health and financial burdens. Headaches fall in the top five causes of emergency department visits and the top twenty reasons for outpatient visits. The overall prevalence of migraine headaches is estimated to be 16%; they are more frequent in women, with a sex prevalence ratio of 3:1. Around 38% of patients with episodic migraines would benefit from prophylactic treatment, but only 3% to 13% get it. After treating acute migraines, all migraine patients should be evaluated for preventive therapy. The purpose of preventive therapy is to decrease the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks. Furthermore, preventative therapy can increase responsiveness to acute migraine therapy and improve the quality of life. Prophylactic treatment is not curative, and most patients will still need abortive medications for acute migraine. Before starting prophylactic medications, it is imperative to evaluate if patients are using proper and adequate abortive therapies. Overuse of abortive medications can cause rebound headaches.
复发性偏头痛可能会导致功能障碍，并会损害生活质量。偏头痛的致残性导致患者频繁前往门诊和急诊科，造成巨大的健康和经济负担。头痛位列急诊科就诊原因的前五位，以及门诊就诊原因的前二十位。据估计，偏头痛的总体患病率为16%；女性更为常见，男女患病率之比为3:1。约38%的发作性偏头痛患者会从预防性治疗中获益，但只有3%至13%的患者接受了该治疗。在治疗急性偏头痛后，所有偏头痛患者都应接受预防性治疗评估。预防性治疗的目的是减少偏头痛发作的频率、严重程度和持续时间。此外，预防性治疗可以提高对急性偏头痛治疗的反应性，并改善生活质量。预防性治疗并非治愈性的，大多数患者仍需要使用终止发作药物来治疗急性偏头痛。在开始使用预防性药物之前，必须评估患者是否正在使用适当且足够的终止发作疗法。过度使用终止发作药物可能会导致反弹性头痛。
