Sperling's BestPlaces Uncovers Migraine 'Hot Spots' In The U.S.

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 11 Mar 2006 - 1:00 PDT

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A national analysis conducted by Sperling's BestPlaces and sponsored by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., identifies the nation's migraine "hot spots," cities with the highest amount of factors that are most commonly associated with migraine. These factors include the amount of acute migraine prescriptions per capita as well as the prevalence of more than 30 lifestyle and environmental factors known to trigger migraine attacks.

According to the analysis, the top 10 migraine "hot spots" are:

1. Cincinnati, OH
2. Madison, WI
3. Little Rock, AR
4. Knoxville, TN
5. St. Louis, MO
6. Nashville, TN
7. Johnson City, TN
8. Chattanooga, TN
9. Greenville, SC
10. Canton, OH

Even though 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, it is still greatly misunderstood. In fact, a significant number of sufferers are unaware of approaches they can take to help manage their migraines.

Many migraineurs live in a seemingly endless cycle in which they are suffering, treating and then worrying about the next attack. It is important for migraineurs, particularly those living in migraine "hot spots," to know that there are different treatment options.

"Mind Over Migraine," www.mindovermigraine.com, an educational program designed to help migraine sufferers take control of their condition, offers lifestyle tools and techniques to help identify and combat triggers.

"In my practice, I have seen many migraine sufferers who accept that the pain and anticipation of the next attack is the typical life of a migraine sufferer," said Lisa Mannix, M.D., medical director, Headache Associates. "On the contrary, there are various options including lifestyle changes, and for some, daily migraine prevention treatments like TOPAMAX� (topiramate) that can help change the way migraine sufferers manage their condition."

In conjunction with lifestyle changes, there are medication options. Acute medications, taken at the onset of an attack to treat the immediate pain of a migraine, are the more traditional approach. In addition, daily preventive medications are available to help prevent migraines before they have a chance to start, so patients can get fewer of them.

"I would advise that migraine sufferers, especially migraineurs in the 'hot spots,' keep a detailed record of their attacks to help determine their own migraine triggers," said Lisa Mannix, M.D. "A journal to record eating habits, weather conditions, sleep patterns and other medications and their effects can be used to provoke a thoughtful discussion about effective migraine management with a physician."

Migraine Prevention

With preventive therapy, many patients experience a decrease of 50 percent in their migraine frequency. Unfortunately, many migraine sufferers are not incorporating these prevention options into their treatment regimen.

Migraine prevention may be appropriate for migraine sufferers who:

-- Experience frequent (two or more per month) and/or severe migraine attacks that impact daily activities for three or more days;

-- Experience migraine attacks that interfere with daily routine despite acute treatment;

-- Take over-the-counter or prescription medications more than twice a week for migraine pain relief;

-- Find that acute medications are not effective.

Migraine sufferers who fit this criteria may want to talk with their doctor about prevention. TOPAMAX� Tablets and Sprinkle Capsules, approved for the prevention of migraine headaches in adults by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2004, may be an option. In clinical studies with TOPAMAX�, many people with migraine experienced significantly fewer attacks, enabling them to help manage their condition.

About TOPAMAX�

TOPAMAX� is approved for migraine prevention in adults only. TOPAMAX� is not for the acute treatment of migraines.

Important Safety Information

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX� include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis), and hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing) or fatigue. More severe symptoms of metabolic acidosis could include irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests to measure bicarbonate levels.

Other serious risks include increased eye pressure (glaucoma), decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion and difficulty concentrating. Tell your doctor immediately if you have blurred vision or eye pain.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take.

Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information at http://www.topamax.com.

Methodology

The analysis was conducted by Sperling's BestPlaces (Fast Forward, Inc.) during the months of December 2005 and January 2006 for Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. The universe of cities to include in the analysis was the 110 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 MSA definitions. The analysis determined the "hot spots" for migraines, by considering the number of prescriptions for acute migraine treatment and the prevalence of migraine triggers, which included environment, lifestyle and food.

The number of prescriptions in each city for triptan drugs was obtained from IMS records, and adjusted by the current population to derive a per capita number. The prescription data was for the 12-month period through November 2005. Sixteen environmental and lifestyle factors were considered to measure the level of stress, both mental and physiological. Per capita consumption of 15 known food triggers was determined from MRI (Mediamark Research, Inc.) consumer behavior database. All data was the most current available for 2005.

For all of these data elements, it is assumed for the purpose of this analysis that greater figures indicate a greater level of migraine challenge for that metro area. After each city is assigned a percentile score for each of the above data elements, a single composite score is derived for each of the four data categories (prescriptions, lifestyle factors, environmental factors and food triggers) by weighting each data element and adding them together.

Finally, a single overall migraine "Hot Spot" score for each city is arrived at by adding together each of the scores for the four data categories. The cities are then sorted by this overall migraine "Hot Spot" score; the city with the highest score is identified as the No. 1 migraine "Hot Spot," the city with the second highest score is identified as the No. 2 migraine "Hot Spot," and so on.

For more information on the Migraine "Hot Spots" analysis, please visit www.mindovermigraine.com.

About Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc.

Headquartered in Titusville, NJ, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., focuses exclusively on providing solutions that improve neurological health. The company currently markets products for Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and acute and preventive migraine treatment. Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., in conjunction with internal and external research partners, continues to explore new opportunities to develop solutions for unmet health care needs in neurology.

About Bert Sperling

For nearly 20 years, Bert Sperling has been helping people find their own "Best Place" to live, work and retire. His firm, Sperling's BestPlaces, puts facts about cities and living in the hands of the public, so they can make better decisions about best places to live, work, retire, play or relocate. Bert Sperling's Cities Ranked and Rated was released in March 2004 and another book, 100 Best Cities for Families, will be available in spring 2006.

More information about Bert Sperling and Sperling's BestPlaces is available at http://www.bestplaces.net.

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