The following is a summary of “Remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) wearable device for adolescents with migraine: a real-world study of high-frequency abortive treatment suggests preventive effects,” published in the November 2023 issue of Pain by Montheith et al. 

Migraine is a chronic neurological disease with disabling headaches and other symptoms. Nerivio is a non-drug, FDA-approved wearable device for acute and preventive migraine treatment in patients 12 and older. Worn on the arm for 45-minute treatments, Nerivio is controlled by a smartphone app. 

Researchers performed a prospective study to evaluate whether frequent Remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) use for adolescent migraine treatment reduces monthly migraine treatment days (MMTD), as proven in adults. 

The study utilized real-world prospective data from adolescents who adhered to the REN migraine prevention guideline, which involved using REN for at least 10 days every 28-day month in an every-other-day pattern. Participants were also required to have at least three REN treatment days in each of the two subsequent months. The change in the number of MMTD from the first month, considered the “baseline,” to each of the following months was used to assess potential migraine prevention benefits of REN in adolescents. 

About 83 adolescents (89% female) with a mean age of 15.9 ± 1.3 years were included. The study showed a significant reduction in the (mean ± SD) number of REN treatment days, decreasing from 12.6 (± 3.2). MMTD in the first month to 9.0 (± 4.8) MMTD in the second month (P< 0.001) and further to 7.4 (± 4.2) MMTD in the third month (P< 0.001), resulting in a cumulative reduction of 5.2 (± 4.8) mean REN MMTD from the first month to the third month of consecutive REN treatment. Users reported consistent 2-hour acute pain responses in at least 50% of their treated attacks, with 61.9% experiencing pain relief, 24.5% reporting pain freedom, 67.4% indicating relief in functional disability, and 41.3% reporting complete freedom from functional disability.

The study found that frequent REN use for adolescent migraines reduced monthly treatment days, suggesting preventive benefits.

Source: frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2023.1247313/full