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Journal article
Global, regional, and national burden of headache disorders, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
Lancet neurology, Vol.24(12), pp.1005-1015
2025
PMID: 41240916
Abstract
Background
The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 estimates health loss from migraine, tension-type headache, and medication-overuse headache. This study presents updated results on headache-attributed burden from 1990 to 2023, along with clinical and public health implications.
Methods
Data on the prevalence, incidence, or remission of migraine, tension-type headache, and medication-overuse headache were extracted from published population-based studies. We used hierarchical Bayesian meta-regression modelling to estimate global, regional, and country-level prevalence of headache disorders. For the first time in GBD 2023, age-specific and sex-specific estimates of time in symptomatic state were applied by meta-analysing individual participant data from 41 653 individuals from the general populations of 18 countries from all parts of the world. Disability weights were applied to calculate years lived with disability (YLDs). Since medication-overuse headache is a sequela of a mistreated primary headache (due to medication overuse), its burden was reattributed to migraine or tension-type headache, informed by a meta-analysis of three longitudinal studies.
Findings
In 2023, 2·9 billion individuals (95% uncertainty interval 2·6–3·1) were affected by headache disorders, with a global age-standardised prevalence of 34·6% (31·6–37·5) and a YLD rate of 541·9 (373·4–739·9) per 100 000 population, with 487·5 (323·0–678·8) per 100 000 population attributed to migraine. The prevalence rates of these headache disorders have remained stable over the past three decades. YLD rates due to headache disorders were more than twice as high in females (739·9 [511·2–1011·5] per 100 000) as in males (346·1 [240·4–481·8] per 100 000). Medication-overuse headache contributed 58·9% of the YLD estimates for tension-type headache in males and 56·1% in females, as well as 22·6% of the YLD estimates for migraines in males and 14·1% in females.
Interpretation
Headache disorders, in particular migraine, continue to be a major global health challenge, emphasising the need for effective management and prevention strategies. Much headache-attributed burden could be averted or eliminated by avoiding overuse of medication (including over-the-counter medication), underscoring the importance of public education.
Funding
Gates Foundation.
Details
- Title
- Global, regional, and national burden of headache disorders, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
- Authors/Creators
- Andreas Kattem Hus⊘y - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyYvonne Yiru Xu - University of Washington, SeattleJaimie D Steinmetz - University of Washington, SeattleMohammad Amin Aalipour - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesHasan Aalruz - Al-Zaytoonah University of JordanDeldar Morad Abdulah - University of DuhokRichard Gyan Aboagye - UNSW SydneyDariush Abtahi - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesSamir Abu Rumeileh - Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergSalahdein Aburuz - University of JordanQorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani - Padjadjaran UniversityObed Adonteng-Kissi - School of Arts and Social Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, WA, AustraliaGiuseppina Affinito - Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, ItalyDanish Ahmad - University of CanberraNegar Sadat Ahmadi - Tehran University of Medical SciencesAli Ahmed - Riphah International UniversityAsma Ahmed - Riphah International UniversityShahzaib Ahmed - Department of Medicine, Fatima Memorial Hospital College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, PakistanMohammad Ahmmad Mahmoud Al Zoubi - The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonYazan Al-Ajlouni - Columbia UniversitySawsan Alabbad - King Abdulaziz UniversityMohammed Albashtawy - Al al-Bayt UniversityFadwa Naji Alhalaiqa - Qatar UniversityAshraf Alhumaidi - Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityMohammed Usman Ali - University of MaiduguriSyed Shujait Ali - University of SwatMontaha Al-Iede - University of JordanJoseph Uy Almazan - Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, KazakhstanNajim Z Alshahrani - University of JeddahAwais Altaf - Muteesa I Royal UniversityMohammad Al-Wardat - Jordan University of Science and TechnologyYaser Mohammed Al-Worafi - Sana'a UniversityKarem H Alzoubi - Qatar UniversitySohrab Amiri - Baqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesGaniyu Adeniyi Amusa - Jos University Teaching HospitalDavid B Anderson - Institute for Musculoskeletal HealthAbhishek Anil - All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhubaneswarJalal Arabloo - Iran University of Medical SciencesAleksandr Y Aravkin - University of WashingtonDemelash Areda - Arizona State UniversityMahsa Asadi Anar - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesMohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi - Cabrini Research, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, AustraliaSait Ashina - University of CopenhagenKhursheed Aurangzeb - King Saud UniversityArian Azadnia - Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesAhmed Y Azzam - October 6 UniversityYoungoh Bae - Sungkyunkwan UniversityRazieh Bahreini - Pacific University OregonSoham Bandyopadhyay - University of SouthamptonHiba Jawdat Barqawi - University of SharjahAzadeh Bashiri - Shiraz University of Medical SciencesRehana Basri - Jouf UniversityMohammad-Mahdi Bastan - Tehran University of Medical SciencesJina Behjati - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesMaryam Bemanalizadeh - Isfahan University of Medical SciencesJeetendra Bhandari - Karnali Academy of Health SciencesSonu Bhaskar - National Cerebral and Cardiovascular CenterGurjit Kaur Bhatti - Chandigarh UniversityJasvinder Singh Bhatti - Central University of PunjabRajbir Bhatti - Guru Nanak Dev UniversityBijit Biswas - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, DeogharBruno Bizzozero-Peroni - Karolinska InstitutetArchith Boloor - Manipal Academy of Higher EducationMeriem Boukhiam - Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed VI University of Health Science, Casablanca, WA, MoroccoYasser Bustanji - University of SharjahSanjay C J - JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchLuis Alberto Cámera - Argentine Water and Sanitation (Argentina)Edoardo Caronna - Vall d'Hebron Institut de RecercaAna Paula Carvalho-e-Silva - NSW Department of EducationSandip Chakraborty - State Disease Investigation Laboratory, Animal Resources Development Department, Agartala, IndiaVijay Kumar Chattu - Semey Medical UniversityAnis Ahmad Chaudhary - Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic UniversityPatrick R Ching - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityHongyuan Chu - Peking UniversityJosielli Comachio - Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaDaniela Contreras - University of BergenNatalia Cruz-Martins - University of MinhoOmid Dadras - Government of the Northern TerritoryXiaochen Dai - Institute for Health Metrics and EvaluationEmanuele D'Amico - University of CataniaAnh Kim Dang - Duy Tan UniversityLucio D'Anna - Imperial College LondonSindhura Deekonda - Brookdale University Hospital and Medical CenterPouria Delbari - Tehran University of Medical SciencesAndreas K Demetriades - National Health Service ScotlandEmina Derviševic - University of SarajevoVinoth Gnana Chellaiyan Devanbu - Chettinad Academy of Research and EducationAmol S Dhane - Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, PuneBibha Dhungel - Population Interventions Unit, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaXueting Ding - University of California, IrvineHuyen Phuc Do - VinUniversityOjas Prakashbhai Doshi - Bridgewater CollegeSiddhartha Dutta - All India Institute of Medical SciencesLamiaa Labieb Mahmoud Ebraheim - Zagazig UniversityEbrahim Eini - Independent Consultant, Ahvaz, IranMichael Ekholuenetale - University of PortsmouthSharareh Eskandarieh - Tehran University of Medical SciencesAndre Faro - Universidade Federal de SergipeValery L Feigin - Auckland University of TechnologyGelana Fekadu - Wollega UniversityGinenus Fekadu - City University of Hong KongSeyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad - University of TorontoAbdullah H Feroze - Department of Neurosurgery, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USAPietro Ferrara - University of MilanNuno Ferreira - University of NicosiaClaudio Fiorilla - Department of Public Health, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, ItalyFlorian Fischer - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinArianna Fornari - Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaCelia Fortuna Rodrigues - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalMatteo Foschi - Department of Neuroscience, Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Ravenna, ItalyAbdelrahman Gamil Gad - Johns Hopkins UniversityMárió Gajdács - University of SzegedDavid Garcia-Azorin - Department of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, SpainZisis Gatzioufas - University of BaselRupesh K Gautam - Centre for Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Noida, IndiaMiglas Welay Gebregergis - Adigrat UniversityElena V Gnedovskaya - Research Center of NeurologyMassimiliano Gobbo - University of BresciaMahaveer Golechha - Indian Institute of Public Health GandhinagarPouya Goleij - Department of Genetics, Sana Institute of Higher Education, Sari, IranAlessandra C Goulart - Department of Epidemiology, Universidade de São Paulo (University of São Paulo), São Paulo, BrazilIshita Gupta - Department of Internal Medicine, Independent Consultant, Bharatpur, IndiaSapna Gupta - Shriram Institute for Industrial ResearchRoberth Steven Gutiérrez-Murillo - University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community CollegeNajah R Hadi - University of KufaFaraidoon Haghdoost - The George Institute for Global health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaHailey Hagins - University of Washington, SeattleMohamed Hamed - King Abdulaziz UniversityVictoria Funmilayo Hanson - Rak Medical and Health Sciences University, Rak Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab EmiratesAmr Hassan - Cairo UniversitySimon I Hay - University of Washington, SeattleKhezar Hayat - University of Veterinary and Animal SciencesJeffrey J Hebert - University of New BrunswickGolnaz Heidari - Independent Consultant, Santa Clara, CA, USABartosz Helfer - University of WroclawMehdi Hoseinzadeh - Duy Tan UniversityMd Jubayer Hossain - Center for Health Innovation, Research, Action and Learning - Bangladesh (CHIRAL Bangladesh), Dhaka, BangladeshYongsong Huang - Tohoku UniversityLuigi Francesco Iannone - University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaOlayinka Stephen Ilesanmi - West Africa RCC, Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, NigeriaSegun Emmanuel Ibitoye - University of IbadanIrena M Ilic - University of BelgradeMuhana Fawwazy Ilyas - Department of Neurosurgery, Universitas Sebelas Maret (March Eleventh University), Jakarta, IndonesiaSalim Ilyasu - Bayero University KanoMd Rabiul Islam - BRAC UniversityMd Sahidul Islam - Research and Publication Department, World Health Organization (WHO), Dhaka, BangladeshNahlah Elkudssiah Ismail - AIMST UniversityLouis Jacob - Université Paris CitéHaitham Jahrami - Arabian Gulf UniversityAmmar Abdulrahman Jairoun - Department of Health and Safety, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesNavid Jamali - Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, IranManthan Dilipkumar Janodia - Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth, Hyderabad, IndiaRuwan Duminda Jayasinghe - University of PeradeniyaShuai Jin - Guiyang Medical UniversityJost B Jonas - Institut FrançaisNitin Joseph - Manipal Academy of Higher EducationCharity Ehimwenma Joshua - National Open UniversitySaltanat Kamenova - Kazakh National Medical UniversityArun Kamireddy - Johns Hopkins UniversityRami S Kantar - NYU Langone HealthSujita Kumar Kar - King George's Medical UniversityMohmed Isaqali Karobari - Saveetha UniversityHimanshu Khajuria - Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences, Amity University, Noida, IndiaSameer Uttamaro Khasbage - All India Institute of Medical Sciences RaipurJagdish Khubchandani - New Mexico State UniversityYun Jin Kim - Xiamen University MalaysiaOmid Kohandel Gargari - Tehran University of Medical SciencesFarzad Kompani - Tehran University of Medical SciencesAida Kondybayeva - Kazakh National Medical UniversityKewal Krishan - Panjab UniversityBarthelemy Kuate Defo - Department of Demography, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, CanadaMukhtar Kulimbet - Kazakh National Medical UniversityChandan Kumar - Amity Institute of Health Allied Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, IndiaRakesh Kumar - University of Ha'ilVijay Kumar - Manipal University JaipurVille Kytö - Turku University HospitalCaterina Ledda - University of CataniaSeung Won Lee - Sungkyunkwan UniversityJacopo Lenzi - University of BolognaLinyan Li - City University of Hong KongJianan Li - School of Public Health, Xuzhou medical university, Xuzhou, ChinaYanxue Lian - Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of GalwayGiancarlo Lucchetti - föra forest technologies (Spain)Jay B Lusk - Duke UniversityRicardo Lutzky Saute - Universidade de São PauloSasikumar Mahalingam - EMERGENCYRituparna Maiti - All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhubaneswarAhmad Azam Malik - King Abdulaziz UniversityBirhanemaskal Malkamu - Debre Tabor UniversityVahid Mansouri - Tehran University of Medical SciencesKonstantinos Margetis - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiRoy Rillera Marzo - Curtin University SarawakYasith Mathangasinghe - Monash UniversityGeorgios Mavrovounis - University of ThessalyHadush Negash Meles - Adigrat UniversityAtte Meretoja - Helsinki University HospitalTomislav Mestrovic - University of Washington, SeattleSachith Mettananda - University of KelaniyaBartosz Miazgowski - Pomeranian Medical UniversityGiuseppe Minervini - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"Archana Mishra - All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhubaneswarArup Kumar Misra - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, MangalagiriKhabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed - University of KhartoumOmer Mohammed - Department of Medicine, Government Medical College Kozhikode, Kozhikode, IndiaShafiu Mohammed - Ahmadu Bello UniversityAli H Mokdad - University of Washington, SeattleShaher Momani - University of JordanMaziar Moradi-Lakeh - Iran University of Medical SciencesMahdis Morovvati - Tehran University of Medical SciencesReza Mosaddeghi Heris - Tabriz University of Medical SciencesKavita Munjal - Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, IndiaYanjinlkham Munkhsaikhan - Department of Community and Global Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanEfren Murillo-Zamora - Clinical Epidemiology Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Villa de Alvarez, MexicoChristopher J L Murray - University of Washington, SeattleGhulam Mustafa - Shaqra UniversityFatemehzahra Naddafi - Tabriz University of Medical SciencesZuhair S Natto - King Abdulaziz UniversityGaurav Nepal - Case Western Reserve UniversityCharles Richard James Newton - University of OxfordCao Duy Nguyen - Duy Tan UniversityCuong Tat Nguyen - Duy Tan UniversityHien Thu Nguyen - Duy Tan UniversityLong Nguyen - Faculty of Public HealthRobina Khan Niazi - International Islamic University, IslamabadLuciano Nieddu - Department of Humanities and Social Science, University for International Studies in Rome, Rome, ItalyFred Nugen - Mayo ClinicChijindu N Nwakama - Johns Hopkins UniversityOgochukwu Janet Nzoputam - Department of Physiology, University of Benin, Edo, NigeriaBogdan Oancea - University of BucharestMichael Safo Oduro - Pfizer Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USAHassan Okati-Aliabad - Zahedan University of Medical SciencesAndrew T Olagunju - McMaster UniversityArão Belitardo Oliveira - Universidade de São PauloJia Ouyang - Peking University People's HospitalMark Overton - Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaMayowa O Owolabi - University of IbadanMahesh P A - JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchGiuseppina Palena - Department of Public Health, University “Federico II” of Naples, Naples, ItalyLeonidas D Panos - University of BernIoannis Pantazopoulos - University of ThessalyShahina Pardhan - Anglia Ruskin UniversityRomil R Parikh - University of MinnesotaArpit Parmar - All India Institute of Medical Sciences BhubaneswarMaja Pasovic - University of Washington, SeattleShankargouda Patil - Roseman University of Health SciencesApurba Patra - All India Institute of Medical SciencesPaolo Pedersini - University of BresciaMario F P Peres - Universidade de São PauloSimone Perna - University of MilanWajida Perveen - CMH Lahore Medical College, CMH Lahore Medical College & Institute of Dentistry, Lahore, PakistanHai Quang Pham - Trường ĐH Nguyễn Tất ThànhSanjay Prakash - Department of Neurology, Smt. B.K.S. Medical Institute and Research Center, Vadodara, IndiaAkila Prashant - JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchJagadeesh Puvvula - University of PennsylvaniaMaja R Radojcic - University of ManchesterAlberto Raggi - Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo BestaMohammad Meshbahur Rahman - Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, BangladeshAmir Masoud Rahmani - National Yunlin University of Science and TechnologyMahmoud Mohammed Ramadan - University of SharjahDevarajan Rathish - Rajarata University of Sri LankaSalman Rawaf - Imperial College LondonMohsen Rezaeian - Rafsanjan University of Medical SciencesTaeho Gregory Rhee - Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USADebby Syahru Romadlon - Chulalongkorn UniversityMichele Romoli - Department of Neurosciences, Maurizio Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, ItalyMarina Romozzi - Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreUmar Saeed - Széchenyi István UniversityAmene Saghazadeh - Tehran University of Medical SciencesAmirhossein Sahebkar - Saveetha UniversityMohamed A Saleh - University of SharjahSohrab Salimi - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbdallah M Samy - Ain Shams UniversityLucas H C C Santos - Universidade de São PauloAswini Saravanan - All India Institute of Medical Sciences JodhpurHemen Sarma - Bodoland UniversityYigit Can Senol - University of California, San FranciscoYashendra Sethi - Swami Vivekanand Subharti UniversityYara Khaled Fouad Sayed Shaalan - Misr University for Science and TechnologyWajeehah Shahid - University of LahoreAnas Shamsi - Ajman UniversityDan Shan - Lancaster University, Lancaster, UKAmin Sharifan - Evidence (Italy)Rekha Raghuveer Shenoy - Manipal Academy of Higher EducationPremalatha K Shetty - Manipal Academy of Higher EducationZahra Shokati Eshkiki - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical SciencesSunil Shrestha - Kathmandu Cancer CenterHarmanjit Singh - Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, IndiaJasvinder A Singh - Baylor College of MedicineSatwinder Singh - Central University of PunjabValentin Yurievich Skryabin - Royal College of PsychiatristsFarrukh Sobia - Jazan UniversityReed J D Sorensen - University of Washington, SeattleSebastian Straube - University of AlbertaChandan Kumar Swain - Utkal UniversitySree Sudha T Y - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, DeogharPayam Tabaee Damavandi - Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland (NSI), Lugano, SwitzerlandCeline Tabche - Imperial College LondonMohsan Tanveer - Department of Computer and Software Engineering, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, PakistanMinale Tareke - Bahir Dar UniversityClaudia Baptista Tavares - School of Medicine at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilMohamad-Hani Temsah - King Saud UniversityMasayuki Teramoto - Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USAArun James Thirunavukarasu - London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineAshutosh Tiwari - All India Institute of Medical Sciences GorakhpurThang Huu Tran - University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh CityNguyen Tran Minh Duc - ALS (Czechia)Vasilis-Spyridon Tseriotis - Aristotle University of ThessalonikiSanthosh Kumar Tumkur Narayanappa - ESIC Medical College PGIMSR and Model Hospital, Bengaluru, IndiaAniefiok John Udoakang - University of Medical Sciences, OndoHimayat Ullah - Shaqra UniversityJibrin Sammani Usman - Bayero University KanoAbdulkadir Usman Sambo - Department of Psychiatry, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, NigeriaJef Van den Eynde - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumTommi Juhani Vasankari - UKK Institute, Tampere, FinlandNarayanaswamy Venketasubramanian - Raffles UniversityJorge Hugo Villafañe - Universidad Europea de MadridArvinder Wander - All India Institute of Medical SciencesWei Wang - School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaXingxin Wang - Shandong University of Traditional Chinese MedicineYuan-Pang Wang - Universidade de São PauloTaweewat Wiangkham - Naresuan UniversityMieszko Wieckiewicz - Wroclaw Medical UniversityWanqing Xu - Tufts UniversitySaba Yahoo (Syed) - Department of Community Medicine, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hyderabad, IndiaYazachew Engida Yismaw - Bahir Dar UniversityDong Keon Yon - Kyung Hee UniversityNaohiro Yonemoto - University of ToyamaAbdilahi Yousuf - Jigjiga UniversityAurora Zanghì - University of CataniaMichael Zastrozhin - University of California, San FranciscoAnthony Lin Zhang - School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaZhongyi Zhao - Department of Health Management, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, ChinaMagdalena Zielinska - Medical University of WarsawKanyin Liane Ong - University of Washington, SeattleTimothy J Steiner - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyTheo Vos - University of Washington, SeattleGBD 2023 Headache Collaborators
- Publication Details
- Lancet neurology, Vol.24(12), pp.1005-1015
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.
- Number of pages
- 11
- Identifiers
- 991005830346207891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Allied Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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