Relationship Between Cardiovascular Risk and Migraine

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open investigated the relationship between cardiovascular risk and migraine activity in Dutch men and women. Using the SCORE2 system, which evaluates the risk of cardiovascular diseases, the researchers analyzed whether cardiovascular health influenced migraine patterns.

Background
Migraine is a neurological condition that causes moderate to severe headaches, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. It is more common in women under 50 years old and can be very disabling. Previous research suggests that migraine, especially with aura (visual or sensory symptoms before the headache), could increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

About the study
The study used data from over 160,000 participants from the northern regions of the Netherlands, collected between 2006 and 2014. Individuals with severe mental illnesses, terminal illnesses, or language barriers were excluded. Participants completed questionnaires about migraine symptoms and provided blood samples to measure cholesterol levels, among other parameters.

Results
The results showed that people with lower cardiovascular risk were more likely to experience migraines, both prevalent (already existing) and incident (developed during the study). This trend was stronger in women. Approximately 18.4% of participants reported prevalent migraines, and 1.9% developed incident migraines. As cardiovascular risk increased, the likelihood of having migraines decreased.

Conclusions
The study concluded that a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases is associated with a higher likelihood of having migraines, both in men and women, although the association is stronger in women.