ArticleThe journal of headache and pain2026
Clinical and social burden of migraine in Japanese males: a cross-sectional comparison with females without menstrual migraine.
Article in The journal of headache and pain, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundMigraine is globally more prevalent in females; however, the clinical and social burden among males remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to describe the clinical features and social burden of migraine in Japanese males to identify sex-specific migraine profiles.
methodsA cross-sectional, population-based web survey was conducted among Japanese adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with migraine according to modified criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition (ICHD-3). Participants were grouped by sex; females diagnosed with menstrual migraine (MM) were excluded to minimize hormonal confounding. Key outcomes included pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), pain duration, and social burden assessed using validated instruments: Migraine Interictal Burden Scale (MIBS-4), Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment for Migraine (WPAI-M) scores.
resultsOf 266,392 individuals screened, 18,750 completed the survey; 4,161 males and 9,997 females (excluding those with MM) were included in the analysis. Males were older (mean± standard deviation age: 43.9 ± 12.4 vs. 40.9 ± 12.2 years) and reported more lifestyle-related triggers (e.g., alcohol, irregular eating, and overexercise). Males, compared to females, experienced greater pain intensity (VAS: 57.1 ± 16.7 vs. 54.9 ± 19.6; p < 0.001) but shorter pain duration (6.3 ± 9.4 vs. 7.9 ± 12.4 h; p < 0.001). MIDAS scores were comparable (6.3 ± 10.8 vs. 6.0 ± 9.6; p = 0.283), while MIBS-4 scores were higher in males (4.0 ± 3.5 vs. 3.3 ± 3.3; p < 0.001). MSQ scores were lower in males for domains of interference (83.5 ± 20.0 vs. 85.4 ± 18.3; p = 0.001) and emotional function (80.2 ± 20.9 vs. 81.8 ± 20.3; p = 0.007). Work-related impairment was more pronounced in males than in females, with higher absenteeism (4.7 ± 14.1 vs. 3.4 ± 12.7; p = 0.001), presenteeism (31.5 ± 22.9 vs. 29.5 ± 23.1; p = 0.007), and overall work impairment (33.6 ± 24.6 vs. 30.9 ± 24.3; p = 0.001). Preventive medication use was higher in males (oral: 40.8% vs. 34.3%; injectables: 3.3% vs. 1.7%).
conclusionMales with migraine exhibited a greater burden in terms of pain intensity and functional impairment relative to females without MM. These findings support the development of sex-specific and individualized management strategies that incorporate both pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to reduce disease burden and enhance patient-centered care.
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