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. 2021 Jun 7;21(1):1088.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11006-1.

Stroke and cardiovascular risk factors among working-aged Finnish migraineurs

Marja-Liisa Sumelahti  1 , Merika S Sumanen  2 , Kari J Mattila  2 , Lauri Sillanmäki  3 , Markku Sumanen  2
Affiliations

Stroke and cardiovascular risk factors among working-aged Finnish migraineurs

Marja-Liisa Sumelahti et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk for comorbid cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in the working-aged migraine population of Finland.

Methods: A total of 1505 cases who reported diagnosed migraine and 3010 controls from a cohort of 11,596 cases in the Finnish Health and Social Support Study were included. The study material was linked with two registers. ICD diagnoses I63 for ischemic stroke (IS), I21 - I22 for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and G43 for transient ischemic attack (TIA) among study participants were drawn from the national Finnish Care Register for Health Care at the follow-up in 2012. Reimbursed triptan prescriptions were drawn from the national Social Security Institution (SII) data. The self-reported vascular risk factors were hypertension, high cholesterol values, any diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, and TIA. Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence (95% CI) intervals were assessed for diagnosed stroke, myocardial infarction, and TIA.

Results: Migraineurs were mostly female (82%) and ≥ 54 years old (62%). Triptans were reimbursed among 34.7% of migraineurs. A self-reported hypertension (21%), high serum cholesterol (38%), and any diabetes (7%) were more common among migraineurs vs controls (p < 0.05). There was no risk for AMI. The risk for TIA (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.45-7.05) and IS (2.57, 95% CI 1.28-5.17) among migraineurs vs controls remained high after adjustment for self-reported hypertension, obesity, and smoking. The risk was higher among women in two groups ≥54 years (3.25, 95% CI 1.35-7.84 and 5.0, 95% CI 1.94-12.89, respectively). The average age for IS in migraine was 57.5 years and for TIA 58.2 years among women, and 52.8 years and 50.3 years among men, respectively.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk should be screened in the aging migraine population, and hormonal and other migraine-related risk factors should be considered, especially among women. Efficacious attack treatment with triptans should be offered to migraine patients who do not show contraindications.

Keywords: Ischemic stroke; Migraine; Myocardial infarction; Triptan use; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of the study population
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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