Open Access

Anne Thiele, Sebastian Strauß, Anselm Angermaier, Martin Kronenbuerger, Robert Fleischmann

• Abstract Background and purpose:Diagnosing a patient with headache as a migraineur is critical for state-of-the-art migrainemanagement. Screening tools are imperative means to improve the diagnostic yield in the primary care settings andspecialized clinics. This study aims to translate and assess the diagnostic accuracy of a German version of theID Migraine™as a widely used and efficient screening instrument. Methods: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy translation methodology was used to translate theoriginal three-itemID Migraine™, including a fourth question for aura, from the English language into the German language.Diagnostic accuracy of the GermanID Migraine™and predictors of false screening results were assessed among patientspresenting to a headache outpatient clinic of a tertiary care center in Germany over a 6-month period. Results: The translation procedure yielded a harmonized GermanID Migraine™and its diagnostic accuracy was assessedin 105 patients (80 female, 46.5+17.2 years of age), including 79 patients (75.2%) with migraine. The three-item GermanID Migraine™provides a sensitivity of 99%, specificity of 68%, and positive and negative predictive values of 90% and 95%,respectively, using a cutoff of� 2. Positive and negative predictive values in a general headache population are estimated tobe 74% and 98%, respectively. The aura question identified 18 out of 20 migraineurs with aura. Conclusions: The GermanID Migraine™is an accurate screening tool for migraine even in a challenging population of aspecialized outpatient clinic. Its diagnostic accuracy indicates a potential utility for screening in primary health care.