Lifetime prevalence and underdiagnosis of migraine in a population sample of Mexican women

Objective The objective of this report is to evaluate migraine, migraine characteristics, and underdiagnosis of migraine in a large population sample of Mexican women. Methods Participants are part of a prospective cohort of Mexican teachers. Between 2011 and 2013, 77,855 participants completed a detailed questionnaire on headache characteristics. Migraine was defined according to criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICDH-II). Results We found lifetime migraine prevalence was 19%, prevalence peaked at 40-44 years (20.4%) and only 45.1% participants with migraine had a previous diagnosis of the disease. Conclusion Estimated lifetime prevalence of migraine was higher than previous reports in Latin America. Migraine may be underdiagnosed and undertreated in Mexico despite its considerable burden.