Impact of preventive medications in migraine patients at Rhode Island Hospital.

OBJECTIVE Determine healthcare resource utilization in migraine patients prescribed preventive medications in the resident neurology clinic at Rhode Island Hospital. BACKGROUND Similar institutions have demonstrated that treatment with preventive migraine medications results in significant decreases in outpatient and ED visits, CT/ MRI scans and abortive medication usage. METHODS Retrospective chart review identified 166 patients based on icd-9 code. Resource utilization was defined as documented emergency room visits, MRI/CT, hospitalizations, outpatient visits and abortive medication usage. RESULTS There was no difference in resource utilization in those patients taking or not taking a preventive medication. Only 53% were on a level A recommended medication and of those 35.5% were treated with recommended doses. CONCLUSION UNLIKE similar institutions, there was no difference in resource utilization in patients taking preventive medications. A possible explanation for this discrepancy may be that patients are sub-optimally treated with less effective medications and doses. Employment of appropriate preventive medications may result in a decrease in the utilization of healthcare resources.