Evidence from double-blind clinical trials and open-label trials in “real life” settings have shown triptans improve productivity from 26% to 71%. Several different methods to measure productivity were employed in the studies listed below. Some measured productivity loss over an 8-hour shift, others measured total days of work lost over a 6 month period, while others measured productivity losses 2 hours after study medications were given. In order to combine these studies, the percent improvement with triptan use was calculated based on the metric used to measure productivity in each study. In all cases, the metric used to calculate percent improvement included a measure of time lost from work (absenteeism) and reduced productivity on the job (presenteeism).

The percent improvement most representative and in the middle of the range of all studies examined was selected for use in the model. A value of 49% improvement was selected for use in the model.

Studies selected for use in the model were evaluated on study design, sample size, response rate, classification criteria, measurement methods, and use of a control group. Only studies conducted in the United States were included in the model.

If you would like to see a formal abstract of these articles, please click on the name of the author.

Author, date	% Improvement in LWDE	Study desisn	Sample size
Dasbach (2000)	26	Randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial	407
Adelman (1996)	30	Open-label, 2 phase study (usual Rx, triptan)	218
Mushet (1996)	38.5	Open-label, 2 phase study (usual Rx, triptan)	43
Davies (1999)	43.4	Open-label phase of blinded, placebo controlled trial	780
Cady (1998)	49	Randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial	135
Schulman (2000)	49	Randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial	119
Lofland (1999)	52.8	Prospective observational study	178
Cohen (1999)	64.6	Open-label study	149
Weaver (2004)	70.5	Open-label study	142

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