Improvements in health-related quality of life with sumatriptan treatment for migraine.

Background: The debilitating effects of migraine might be reduced in patients using an effective migraine medication. The serotonin (5HT1) receptor agonist sumatriptan has been shown in clinical trials to alleviate headache and associated symptoms in the majority of patients treated.

Methods: Three hundred forty-four (344) patients with migraine were allowed to treat an unlimited number of migraine attacks for up to 24 months with subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg). Open-label oral sumatriptan (100 mg) could be used between 1 hour and 24 hours after the initial injection for treatment of recurrent or persistent headache. On four occasions during the treatment period, patients completed the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey, a general health status instrument; the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, a disease-specific instrument; and a series of questions designed to measure the impact of migraine on productivity and disability.

Results: Treatment with sumatriptan was associated with significant (P < .05) improvements relative to baseline in three of the Short Form-36 Health Survey quality-of-life dimensions (Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptions, and Social Functioning) and three of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire dimensions (Role Function-Restrictive, Role Function-Preventive, and Emotional Function). Significant (P < .05) improvements in patient-rated productivity and reductions in patient-rated disability also occurred during the trial.

Conclusions: Patients using sumatriptan to treat migraines for up to 24 months experienced improvements in disability and productivity as well as in health-related quality of life as measured either by a general health status instrument or a disease-specific instrument.