Migraine with Visual Aura and Atrial Fibrillation: Is There a Link?

Patients with visual auras before migraine had an increased rate of AF during follow-up in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

Migraine with aura is a stroke risk factor. The mechanisms underlying this association could be multifactorial and may include endothelial dysfunction, alteration in coagulation, and increased risk for cardioembolism.

These authors attempted to unravel the relationship between migraine and atrial fibrillation (AF), a risk factor for cardioembolic stroke. Using the well-known epidemiologic Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, the authors evaluated 11,939 participants who were interviewed about headache history in 1993 through 1995 and followed for incident AF through 2013. AF was ascertained through study-performed electrocardiograms, hospital discharge codes, and death certificates. Migraine with visual aura was defined as seein…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Migraine with Visual Aura and Atrial Fibrillation: Is There a Link?

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Reviewing Author