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Institute for Pain Research & Care Fellowships
Malahat Khalili, MSc, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow
Project Title: Comparative effectiveness of pharmacological prophylaxis for chronic migraine: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Supervisor: Dr. Behnam Sadeghirad
Brief Overview and Progress to Date
Migraine is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by episodes of pulsating headaches, often accompanied by symptoms like photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting. Approximately 12% of people worldwide suffer from migraines, with women aged 15 to 49 being disproportionately affected.
Selecting the right pharmacotherapy for migraines is challenging for physicians and patients. Medications can be divided into symptomatic (acute) treatments for active attacks and prophylactic treatments to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches over time. However, medicines used for migraine prophylaxis show variable effectiveness. A better understanding of comparative effectiveness among currently available pharmacological prophylactics may optimize clinical decision-making and guide further studies. Then, we conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the effectiveness and harms associated with available pharmacological prophylaxis for chronic and episodic migraines.
Our synthesized evidence enhances treatment decisions, facilitates the prescription of precision medicines, and guides identifying areas for further investigation in the challenging field of migraine treatment.
