Migraine associated with increased CVD risk in men

Migraine may increase the risk for CVD, particularly MI, in men, a new analysis from the new analysis from the Physicians' Health Study suggests.Population-based studies have linked migraine with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure, an unfavorable cholesterol profile, and an elevated Framingham risk score for coronary heart disease, as well as a higher prevalence of prothrombotic factors, including von Willebrand factor, 7 factor V Leiden,8 prothrombin factor, the authors note. In 2006, the researchers reported an analysis from the Women's Health Study showing that migraine with aura was associated with an increased risk for major cardiovascular disease, MI, ischemic stroke, and death due to ischemic CVD, as well as with coronary revascularization and angina in women. In the current study, they used data from the Physicians' Health Study, a prospective cohort study of 20 084 men who were free of outcome events at the start of follow-up. In yearly questionnaires, men were asked for information on migraine, risk factors, and the occurrence of study end points. All the men were free of CVD at the start of follow-up. During a mean of 15.7 years, participants were followed for the occurrence of a first major CVD event (nonfatal ischemic stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death from ischemic CVD). A total of 1449 men (7.2%) reported migraine. During follow-up, 2236 major CVD events occurred. After adjustment for a variety of factors, men with migraine had a 24% increased risk for major CVD events and a 42% increased risk for MI.No statistically significant increased risk was seen for ischemic stroke, death from ischemic CVD, or coronary revascularization, although there was a trend for increased risk for angina. The association between migraine and ischemic stroke, however, was significantly modified by age, indicating an increased risk of ischemic stroke for men with migraine who were 40 to 54 years of age but not for older age groups. Men who indicated migraine 4 or more times during the 5-year exposure window did not have further increased risk of CVD."In this large prospective cohort of apparently healthy men, migraine was associated with increased risk of major CVD, which was driven by increased risk of myocardial infarction," the researchers conclude.Reference...