Japan System Techniques Co., Ltd. has started a joint research project with Itoigawa General Hospital, which is in the city of Itoigawa in Niigata prefecture. The research involves the use of medical big data for determining the relationship between headaches and pharmaceuticals. Summary: Approximately one in four people in Japan have problems with headaches.

Substantial expenses are needed for treating this problem, which can often continue for many years. Furthermore, 8.4% of people in Japan suffer from migraines. In recent years, there has been progress with the development of migraine acute treatment and preventive drugs.

However, there have been instances where excessive dosages of analgesics and triptans for acute treatment have produced headaches (headaches due to overuse of drugs) and other problems. With the cooperation of Dr. Masahito Katsuki of Itoigawa General Hospital, JAST has started a joint research project with this hospital that uses medical big data with the goal of learning more about the relationships among migraines, migraine drugs and headaches caused by the overuse of these drugs. The Joint Research Program: JAST has medical big data derived from the anonymous health insurance invoice data of approximately 8 million people. Information about treatments and prescribed drugs for headaches and migraines in this invoice data will be used for this joint research.

Insurance companies and organizations have given their consent for the use of data they have provided. Information about the issues of patients will be analyzed to determine the severity of headaches in order to study any relationship between the use of drugs and the worsening of headaches. Results of this research will be examined to learn more about the effects of the excessive use of migraine drugs and outcomes when drugs are used properly.

The information obtained from this research will be provided to healthcare professionals and to insurance companies and organizations for incorporation in their services for policyholders. At some point, pharmaceutical companies too may start participating in this research project. In the following fiscal year, which ends in March 2024, results of this project are to be announced at an academic conference and a research paper is to be released.