Migraine Updates from the American Headache Society Annual Meeting (AHS 2020)

Details

Migraine headache is the leading condition of recurrent cephalalgias of moderate or severe intensity. It is the most common type of headache presented by patients that seek medical treatment, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked migraine in the top fifteen most disabling medical conditions. The condition has been identified as one of the most common neurological disorders, and in the United States, its prevalence in the general population is approximately 12%. In children, the prevalence ranges from 1% to 4% and does not present more commonly in either sex. However, after menarche, its prevalence in females (18%) is approximately three times higher than in males.

Moreover, professional guidelines relating to the classification, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of migraine headaches have been updated recently, and communicating related information to healthcare professionals in a timely manner is a demonstrated need. The literature suggests that practicing healthcare professionals are often times unable to keep up with the steady publishing of literature and evolution of clinical practice, and awareness of professional guidelines is no exception. Recently published guidelines therefore also inherently suggest a gap in medical practice and justify the need for educational programming. Generalists may be at particular risk for missing updates in standards relating to migraine subtypes like menstual and abdominal migraines.

Target Audience:

Neurologists and any other healthcare professionals who otherwise come into regular clinical contact with and provide care for patients with migraine.

By the end of the session the participant will be able to:

• Recall the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of headache in patients with COVID-19.
• Describe migraine basic science, epidemiology, outcomes, and therapy findings presented at the American Headache Society (AHS) Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting of 2020.
• Categorize new therapies and those in development based on data presented.
• Synthesize overall presentation material from the AHS CME meeting for further clinical application.