[Burden and management differences between migraine with and without aura in neurology clinics].

Background: Migraine is one of the most important reason of neurological consultation in Spain.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyse the profile of the patient with migraine and investigate epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical differences between migraine with aura o without aura.

Patients And Method: For three consecutive months all patients attending for the first time the Neurology clinics of the Health Service of Aragón, were given a specially designed questionnaire.

Results: 374 patients who met migraine diagnostic criteria were included. They were 10.7% of the all patients. The majority of the patients were women (70%). Patients with migraine without aura were 299 (79.9%). The average age was 33.6 +/- 15.1. The family doctor referred 87% of the patients. Further investigations were requested in 20% of the patients with migraine without aura and 49.3% with aura. Cerebral CT was performed in 5.6% of migraine without aura and in 38.6% of migraine with aura patients, MR in 0.6% of migraine without aura and in 6.6% of migraine with aura patients. Treatment was given to 73% of the migraine patients attending for the first time. Calcium antagonists (45.3%) were the most common used drugs.

Conclusions: Migraine generates a considerable demand for neurological consultations. There are significant differences in investigations requested, treatments and follow-ups of patients with migraine with o without aura.