What efficacy measures are clinically relevant and should be used in Cochrane Reviews of acute migraine trials? A viewpoint.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cochrane Reviews are methodologically of high quality but the clinical relevance of analysed efficacy measures (EMs) should also be assessed.

METHODS:

The clinical relevance of EMs used in one systematic Cochrane review of oral zolmitriptan for migraine headache was evaluated.

RESULTS:

The following EMs were used: pain free at two hours (30%), headache relief at two hours (60%), sustained pain free for 24 hours (19%) and sustained headache relief for 24 hours (39%). These EMs were also used in four other Cochrane reviews of acute migraine treatment. Of these EMs sustained headache relief for 24 h is not judged clinically relevant.

CONCLUSION:

Pain free and sustained pain free are clinically relevant, but the responses are rather low, demonstrating that there is a need for improvement of acute drug treatment in migraine.

• Authors: Peer Tfelt-Hansen
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 35 Issue 5 Pg. 457-9 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1468-2982 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25135653 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © International Headache Society 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Topics

• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Humans
• Migraine Disorders (drug therapy)
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care (standards)
• Review Literature as Topic