Why is migraine not recognised as a serious disorder? Results from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, the most comprehensive worldwide observational epidemiological study undertaken to date, provides evidence of the significant disability that millions of headache sufferers experience worldwide.
The latest 2016 data found that among 15-49 year olds, migraine ranks as the top cause of years of life lived with disability (YLD) in women and second cause among men.
Vos T, et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet 2016;390(10100):1211-59.