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Migraine and the Risk of Stroke, TIA or Death in the UK
Claudia Becker, MSc; Gunnar P. Brobert, PhD;
Per M. Almqvist, MD, PhD; Saga Johansson, MD, PhD;
Susan S. Jick, DSc; Christopher R. Meier, PhD, MSc
Posted: April 2008  
Headache 2007;47:1374-1384

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.

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

Results:   The relative risk 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 relative risk of TIA in migraineurs compared with non-migraineurs was 2.4 (95% CI 1.8-3.3), the mortality of migraineurs was slightly decreased.

Conclusion:   In our study, the relative risk of developing a stroke or a TIA was doubled in migraineurs as compared with non-migraineurs, while that for death was close to unity.