Migraine in the US: By the Numbers

Question 1: In the US, migraine/severe headache affects, approximately, how many people?

Answer: C. Migraine/severe headache affects 1 out of every 6 Americans over a 3-month period. 

Question 2: True or false? The overall prevalence of migraine/severe headache between 2006 and 2015 was 15%.

Answer: A. True. The average overall prevalence of migraine/severe headache between 2006 and 2015 was 15%. 

Question 3: What percentage of women are affected by migraine/severe headache over a 3-month period?

Answer: D. 20.7% of women are affected by migraine/severe headache vs 9.7% of men. 

Question 4: In 2015, the highest prevalence of migraine/severe headache was in which race/ethnicity? 

Answer: B. Prevalence of migraine/severe headache was highest in American Indian/Alaskan natives with 18.4% affected; prevalence was lowest in Asians with 11.3% of the population affected.

Question 5: True or false? Among women aged 15 to 64 years, headache was the fifth leading cause of ED visits every year from 2011 to 2015. 

Answer: B. False. Between 2011 and 2015, headache was the third leading cause of ED visits among women aged 15 to 64 years. 

Question 6: In 2015, the prevalence of migraine/severe headache was highest in what age group over a 3-month period?

Answer: A. The prevalence of migraine/severe headache was highest among people aged 18-44 years (17.9%). Prevalence was lowest among people aged >75 years (5.1%). 

Question 7: Headache accounts for what percentage of ED visits every year?

Answer: D. Headache accounts for 3% of ED visits annually. 

Question 8: True or false? In 2014, the number of ED visits due to headache was higher in men aged 15-64 years vs women aged the same years. 

Answer: B. False. The number of ED visits in 2014 among women was almost double that among men (2.5 million vs 0.9 million). 

Question 9: In people aged <65 years, the highest prevalence of migraine/severe headache is among those with which type of insurance coverage?

Answer: C. The highest prevalence of migraine/severe headache is in people aged <65 years with Medicaid (26%) compared to those with private insurance (15.1) and no insurance coverage (17.1%). 

Question 10: In which income bracket is the burden of migraine/severe headache the highest?

Answer: A. The highest burden of migraine/severe headache is in people with a family income <$35 000 a year (19.9%).