Migraine and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Men

Abstract

Background: The vascular component of the migrainespecific physiologic profile and the observed adverse cardiovascular risk profile in migraineurs suggest an association between migraine and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In women, migraine has been associated with increased risk of CVD, including coronary events. Compatible data in men are lacking. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 20 084 men aged 40 to 84 years participating in the Physicians' Health Study. In yearly questionnaires, men were asked for information on migraine, risk factors, and the occurrence of study end points. We classified men as having migraine if they indicated migraine during the first 5 years, after which time follow-up began. Information on aura was not available. All the men were free of CVD at the start of followup. During a mean of 15.7 years, we followed up participants for the occurrence of a first major CVD event (nonfatal ischemic stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death from ischemic CVD). We also evaluated the individual end points, coronary revascularization, and angina. Results: A total of 1449 men (7.2%) reported migraine, and during follow-up, 2236 major CVD events occurred. Compared with nonmigraineurs, men who reported migraine had multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.24 (1.06-1.46; P =.008) for major CVD, 1.12 (0.84-1.50; P =.43) for ischemic stroke, 1.42 (1.15-1.77; PϽ.001) for myocardial infarction, 1.05 (0.89-1.24; P =.54) for coronary revascularization, 1.15 (0.99-1.33; P=.068) for angina, and 1.07 (0.80-1.43; P=.65) for ischemic cardiovascular death. Conclusion: In this large prospective cohort of apparently healthy men, migraine was associated with increased risk of major CVD, which was driven by increased risk of myocardial infarction.

Diffusion-weighted lesions in acute ischaemic stroke patients with migraine

“…Patients with migraine seem especially prone to posterior circulation infarctions (5,6). In later years, data suggesting an association between migraine, cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease have also been published; however, the significance of these associations needs to be investigated further before any conclusions can be drawn (7)(8)(9)(10).…”

Migraine and cardiovascular disease

“…The field has advanced considerably in recent years, with the publication of evidence that MA is indeed an established risk factor for subclinical ischemic lesions of the brain 4 , as well as for ischemic stroke, particularly among women of younger age 5,6 . The association has also been shown in men 7 . Furthermore, migraine seems also to be linked with other forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarct, angina and claudication), as well as with risk factors to CVD 8,9 .…”

“…Finally, as part of the Physician's Health Study, men with migraine (with or without aura) were at increased risk for major CVD (HR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.06-1.46), a finding which was driven by a 42% increased risk of myocardial infarction 7 .…”

Migraine and Cardiovascular Disease

“…The association has also been shown in men 7 . Furthermore, migraine seems also to be linked with other forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarct, angina and claudication), as well as with risk factors to CVD 8,9 .…”