Annual direct and indirect costs of 43.5 billion

The high direct and indirect costs mean that, after age-related dementia and stroke, migraine and other headache disorders are among the three most expensive neurological diseases with the greatest socioeconomic impact. If psychiatric disorders are also taken into account, headaches rank sixth among the most expensive brain disorders in Europe. Of all brain disorders, headaches are the most common group in Europe, affecting 152.8 million people in 2010. They incur approximately €9 billion in direct costs indirect costs arise , such as those resulting from reduced labor productivity and work disability. Overall, headaches cause €43.5 billion in direct and indirect costs annually in Europe.

The table above lists brain diseases and their associated costs in the EU in 2010 (Explanation: Direct medical costs: services related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, e.g., doctor's consultation, hospitalization, medication; direct non-medical costs: other services, e.g., social services, special accommodation, special employment facilities; indirect costs: reduced productivity, incapacity for work, etc.).

Source: Gustavsson A, Svensson M, Jacobi F, Allgulander C, Alonso J, Beghi E, Dodel R, Ekman M, Faravelli C, Fratiglioni L, Gannon B, Jones DH, Jennum P, Jordanova A, Jonsson L, Karampampa K, Knapp M, Kobelt G, Kurth T, Lieb R, Linde M, Ljungcrantz C, Maercker A, Melin B, Moscarelli M, Musayev A, Norwood F, Preisig M, Pugliatti M, Rehm J, Salvador-Carulla L, Schlehofer B, Simon R, Steinhausen HC, Stovner LJ, Vallat JM, Van den Bergh P, van Os J, Vos P, Xu W, Wittchen HU, Jonsson B, Olesen J, Group CD (2011) Cost of disorders of the brain in Europe 2010. European neuropsychopharmacology: the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology 21:718-779