Welche Migränepatienten werden mit CGRP(R)-Antikörpern behandelt? Ein Vergleich zu unspezifischen oralen Prophylaktika anhand von Daten des DMKG-Kopfschmerzregisters

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ruth Ruscheweyh - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Gudrun Goßrau - , Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Comprehensive Pain Centre (Author)
  • Tim Patrick Jürgens - , University of Rostock, KMG Klinikum Güstrow (Author)
  • Victoria Ruschil - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)
  • Torsten Kraya - , St. Georg Hospital Leipzig, Martin Luther University Hospital (Author)
  • Thomas Dresler - , University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Tübingen (Author)
  • Charly Gaul - , Headache Center Frankfurt (Author)
  • Jörg Scheidt - , Hof University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Lars Neeb - , University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel (Author)

Abstract

Background: Antibodies against CGRP or its receptor (eptinezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, from here on: “CGRP(R) antibodies”) are modern migraine preventives. German statutory health insurance covers CGRP(R) antibodies only for patients refractory to other preventive therapies. Thus, the effect of this regulation on patient selection was investigated, as well as the effect of a change of insurance coverage for erenumab in October 2022. Methods: In total, 759 patients with CGRP(R) antibody treatment were compared with 961 patients prescribed nonspecific oral migraine preventive medicines (amitriptyline, betablocker, flunarizine, topiramate) from the DMKG Headache Registry. Results: Patients with CGRP(R) antibodies had more prior preventive therapies that were insufficiently effective or tolerated compared to patients prescribed nonspecific oral preventive medicines (p < 0.001). Moreover, they had longer disease duration (p < 0.001), more often suffered from chronic migraine (p = 0.002), had more severe headache days (p = 0.004) and acute medication days (p = 0.04), lower quality of life (p < 0.05), more comorbidities (p = 0.001), and fewer of them were working (p < 0.001). After change of insurance coverage, treatment with erenumab shifted towards less refractory patients (p < 0.001) with shorter disease duration (p < 0.001), who were less severely affected compared to patients with other CGRP(R) antibodies (e.g., headache days p = 0.01; disability p = 0.005). Conclusion: CGRP(R) antibodies are prescribed for to patients affected by exceedingly severe migraine. Insurance coverage has a significant effect on use of medicines for migraine prevention.

Translated title of the contribution
Migraine patients treated with CGRP(R) antibodies
Are they different from patients treated with nonspecific oral prophylaxis? Analysis from the DMKG headache registry

Details

Original languageGerman
JournalSchmerz
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 Sept 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40932510

Keywords

Keywords

  • CGRP antibody, Insurance coverage, Migraine, Migraine prevention, Prior treatments