Digital health apps may have limited role in reduction of migraine symptoms

1. Among adult patients with migraine headaches, the use of a prescribed digital health app did not reduce the number of migraine days compared with a control app consisting of only migraine diary features. 

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Current management of migraines includes both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, including the use of migraine diaries. With newer advancements in digital technology, there has been an increase in the number of apps with comprehensive features for the purposes of diary tracking as well as giving behavioural advice. This randomized controlled trial therefor,e sought to investigate one of the most frequently downloaded headache apps that is commercially available in Germany and to compare its efficacy against a traditional app with only migraine diary features. 476 adult participants with a diagnosis of migraines from Germany were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 238; mean[SD] age = 35.6[10.3] years) or the control group (n = 238; mean[SD] age = 34.8[10.5] years). The primary outcome was migraine days per month (defined as 28 days) after 12 weeks. There was no statistical difference in the number of migraine days per month between intervention and control groups (between-group difference [intervention minus control], 0.38 [95% CI, −0.32 to 1.08] days; P = .29). There was a similar reduction in the number of migraine days in both groups (intervention group mean [SD], 7.74 [3.70] days during baseline to an adjusted mean of 5.79 [95% CI, 5.02-6.57] days during weeks 9 to 12; control group mean [SD], 7.76 [3.69] days during baseline to an adjusted mean of 5.41 [95% CI, 4.63-6.19] days during weeks 9 to 12). Overall, this study found that the use of a prescribed digital health app was not associated with a reduction in the number of migraine days compared with a control app consisting of only migraine diary features. 

Click to read the study in JAMA Network Open

Image: PD

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