Key Finding
The global burden of migraine in children and adolescents increased substantially from 1990 to 2021, with 205.7 million prevalent cases and 7.5 million disability-adjusted life years in 2021, disproportionately affecting females and adolescents aged 15-19 years.
Researchers analyzed global health data from 1990 to 2021 to understand how migraine affects children and teenagers worldwide. This comprehensive study examined over 200 million cases of migraine in young people, tracking how common migraines are, who they affect most, and how much disability they cause.
The study found that migraine is now the most disabling neurological condition among children and adolescents globally. In 2021 alone, there were nearly 37 million new cases and over 205 million total cases of migraine in young people. The burden has increased substantially over the past three decades, particularly among males, teenagers aged 15-19, and in middle-income countries. However, females still experience higher rates of migraine overall, and the condition causes the most disability in 15-19 year-olds. Countries like Brazil and regions in Tropical Latin America showed the highest rates.
For parents considering treatment options for their children with migraine, these findings highlight the importance of early intervention and comprehensive management strategies. While this study didn't evaluate specific treatments, acupuncture has been explored in other research as a potential non-pharmaceutical option for pediatric migraine management. The rising global burden, especially among teenagers, suggests that families may benefit from exploring multiple approaches to migraine care, including complementary therapies that avoid medication side effects. When considering acupuncture for pediatric migraine, it's essential to consult with a licensed acupuncturist who has specific training and experience in treating children and adolescents.
This epidemiological study analyzed Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data to quantify migraine burden in pediatric populations aged 0-19 years across 204 countries from 1990-2021. Researchers assessed age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardised prevalence rates (ASPR), and age-standardised rates of disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) stratified by sex, age, socio-demographic index (SDI), and geography.
In 2021, there were 36.8 million incident cases, 205.7 million prevalent cases, and 7.5 million DALYs from pediatric migraine. All age-standardised rates increased over the study period, with notable rises among males, 15-19 year-olds, middle-to-high SDI regions, East Asia, and Norway. Females demonstrated consistently higher burden. The 15-19 age group exhibited highest ASPR and ASDR, while 10-14 year-olds had highest ASIR. Low-middle SDI regions showed highest ASPR and ASDR; high SDI regions had highest ASIR. Decomposition analysis attributed increased DALYs to population growth and epidemiological changes.
Clinical implications: The substantial and rising global burden of pediatric migraine necessitates comprehensive, age-appropriate management strategies, particularly for adolescent females in resource-limited settings.
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