Migraine and the risk of stroke, TIA, or death in the UK (CME).
BACKGROUND
Previous observational studies have reported a higher risk of stroke in migraine patients. Objective.- We aimed to estimate the risk of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or death in migraineurs in the UK.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based follow-up study within the General Practice Research Database from 1994 to 2001.


RESULTS
The relative risk (RR) of stroke in migraineurs compared with non-migraineurs was 2.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-2.9). It was highest for patients with a migraine diagnosis recorded within 30 days prior to a stroke (odds ratio 11.1, 95% CI 5.69-21.5). The RR of TIA in migraineurs compared with non-migraineurs was 2.4 (95% CI 1.8-3.3), the mortality of migraineurs was slightly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, the RR of developing a stroke or a TIA was doubled in migraineurs as compared with non-migraineurs, while that for death was close to unity.
Basel Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Claudia
C
Becker
Gunnar P
GP
Brobert
Per M
PM
Almqvist
Saga
S
Johansson
Susan S
SS
Jick
Christoph R
CR
Meier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology