Migraine and risk of ischaemic stroke: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether migraine is a risk factor for ischaemic stroke.


METHODS
A case-control study.


METHODS
Two hospitals in Paris.


METHODS
212 patients with stroke (137 men and 75 women) and 212 controls matched for sex, age (to within five years), and history of hypertension.


METHODS
Ischaemic stroke, confirmed by brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and history of headache, recorded with structured questionnaire during interview.


RESULTS
Prevalence of migraine did not differ between patients with stroke and controls: 18/137 v 17/137 for men (odds ratio 1.1 (95% confidence interval 0.5 to 2.2), p = 0.86); 23/75 v 17/75 for women (odds ratio 1.6 (0.7 to 3.5), p = 0.24); and 41/212 v 34/212 for both sexes (odds ratio 1.3 (0.8 to 2.3), p = 0.33). When subjects were split into two age groups, however, prevalence of migraine was significantly higher among younger women (aged < 45) with stroke compared with their controls (13/20 v 6/20, odds ratio 4.3 (1.2 to 16.3), p = 0.03). Furthermore, the risk of ischaemic stroke was higher among younger women who smoked (7/20 v 1/20, odds ratio 10.2 (1.1 to 93.3)).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of migraine was not different between patients with stroke and matched controls except among women aged < 45, when migraine and stroke were significantly associated.
INSERM U 360, Recherches Epidémiologiques en Neurologie et Psychopathologie, Villejuif, France.
C
C
Tzourio
S
S
Iglesias
J B
JB
Hubert
J M
JM
Visy
A
A
Alpérovitch
A
A
Tehindrazanarivelo
V
V
Biousse
F
F
Woimant
M G
MG
Bousser
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors