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Effect of Biological Therapy on Symptom Burden and Functional Disability in Patients with Migraine: A Before-and-After Analysis Cover

Effect of Biological Therapy on Symptom Burden and Functional Disability in Patients with Migraine: A Before-and-After Analysis

Open Access
|Mar 2026

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Flowchart of the final patient population.
Flowchart of the final patient population.

Figure 2.

Effect of biological therapy on migraine-related symptom burden and functional disability in patients with migraine.
Effect of biological therapy on migraine-related symptom burden and functional disability in patients with migraine.

Presentation of the median, IQR, and statistical significance at three time points_

VariableT1 (median, IQR)T2 (median, IQR)T3 (median, IQR)Statistical significance (p-value)
MIDAS19 [12–30]4 [0–7]2 [0–6]p < 0.001T1 vs T2: < 0.001*
T1 vs T3: < 0.001*
T2 vs T3: 0.002*
VAS8 [8–9]4 [3–6]4 [3–5]p < 0.001T1 vs T2: < 0.001*
T1 vs T3: < 0.001*
T2 vs T3: 0.351
Average analgesic consumption12.5 [9–19.5]4 [1–6]2 [2–4]p < 0.001T1 vs T2: < 0.001*
T1 vs T3: < 0.001*
T2 vs T3: 0.009*
Average number of monthly migraine days (MMD)10 [7–12.5]3 [2–5]2 [1.5–3]p < 0.001T1 vs T2: < 0.001*
T1 vs T3: < 0.001*
T2 vs T3: 0.024

Overview of current biological prophylaxis and reported side effects_

n (%)
Current prophylaxis with biological therapyErenumab (Aimovig)13 (14.1%)
Fremanezumab (Ajovy)45 (48.9%)
Galcanezumab (Emgality)26 (28.3%)
Eptinezumab (Vyepti)8 (8.7%)

Side effects of biological therapyPain at injection site3 (3.3%)
Leg cramps2 (2.2%)
Dizziness2 (2.2%)
Itching4 (4.3%)
Rash- allergic reaction1 (1.1%)
Redness7 (7.6%)
Swelling2 (2.2%)
Runny nose1 (1.1%)
Constipation2 (2.2%)
No side effects72 (78.3%)

Descriptive statistics of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients_

Sociodemographic characteristics of patients
VariableCategories / Unitsn (%) or mean ± SD
SexMale12 (13%)
Female80 (87%)

Age 44.5±11.8

EducationPrimary school2 (2.2%)
Secondary school45 (48,9%)
College / University32 (34.8%)
Master's Degree4 (4.3%)
Specialisation4 (4.3%)
Doctorate5 (5.4%)

EmploymentYes71 (77.2%)

Overview of characteristics of patients who discontinued treatment_

CharacteristicsN = 9%
Female777.8%
Type of migraine (chronic migraine)555.6%
Employed555.6%
Duration of migraine in years (>10 years)666.7%
Reason for discontinuation:
• Ineffectiveness of treatment888.9%
• Side effects111.1%
Tension-type headache444.4%
Comorbid depression444.4%
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2026-0005 | Journal eISSN: 1854-2476 | Journal ISSN: 0351-0026
Language: English
Page range: 34 - 40
Submitted on: Aug 20, 2025
|
Accepted on: Jan 19, 2026
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Published on: Mar 1, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Albina Ličina, Andrej Fabjan, Janez Žibert, Tina Kamenšek, published by National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.