Migraines Linked to Healthy Vascular System

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open looked at the relationship between cardiovascular risk and migraine activity among Dutch men and women. The researchers employed the European Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) system to investigate if cardiovascular health affected migraine patterns, building on earlier research conducted among women.

Background

Migraine is a neurological illness that causes moderate to severe headaches, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Patients may also have aura symptoms. Migraines are most common in women under the age of 50 and are frequently disabling.

Growing evidence suggests that migraine is a cardiovascular risk factor, with studies showing that migraine with aura symptoms raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Other studies, however, have shown no indication that migraines are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recent study from the United States discovered that greater cardiovascular disease risk among women was associated with a history of migraines but no active manifestation of migraines. However, whether these findings extend to men or other populations is uncertain.

About the study
The current study sought to analyze the relationship between cardiovascular risk and migraine activity in a study group of Dutch men and women, using the European SCORE2 method for assessing cardiovascular disease risk.

The study employed data from the Lifelines Cohort, a large population-based study with over 1,60,000 individuals from the Netherlands’ northern provinces. Participants were at least 18 years old, and those with serious mental problems, terminal illnesses, or linguistic challenges were excluded.

The researchers collected baseline data between 2006 and 2014, and then conducted five-year follow-ups that included research visits. Every 1.5 to 2 years, questionnaires were used to assess migraine symptoms, take biological samples such as blood, and analyze physiological parameters. Blood samples were obtained from fasting individuals, and cholesterol levels were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric technique.

The study used the European SCORE2 cardiovascular disease risk assessment system, which calculates the 10-year risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease based on cholesterol levels, age, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and smoking status. Participants with incomplete cardiovascular risk scores were excluded from the study.

Self-reported questionnaires administered at baseline and during follow-ups were used to assess migraine symptoms, and the participants were divided into three groups based on their responses: those with prevalent migraines, those who developed migraines during the follow-up (known as incident migraine), and those without migraines.

Logistic regression models were used to investigate the connection between cardiovascular risk scores and migraine status, with age and gender stratified analyses. The researchers also did a sensitivity analysis using Cox proportional hazard models to investigate the risk of incident migraine.

Conclusions
Overall, the data showed that among the European population, reduced cardiovascular disease risk was related with a higher likelihood of having migraines and developing migraines.

The link was detected in both men and women, but was stronger in women, showing that, while age was not a decisive factor, there were sex-based differences in the association.

For more information: Cardiovascular Risk Scores and Migraine Status, JAMA Network Open, DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40577