Migraine with Aura Might Raise Risk for Hemorrhagic Stroke

Prior research has associated migraine, especially migraine with aura, with excess risk for ischemic stroke and other adverse cardiovascular outcomes (JW Gen Med Sep 23 2010). The association between migraine and hemorrhagic stroke, however, is unclear. Using data from the prospective Women's Health Study, investigators evaluated this association.

Of nearly 28,000 women (age, ≥45) without histories of stroke, 5130 (18%) reported any history of migraine; 3612 reported active migraine (migraine in the year prior to baseline), and 1435 of those with active migraine experienced migraine with aura. During a mean follow-up of 14 years, 85 women suffered hemorrhagic strokes: 15 had histories of migraine, and 70 did not. Compared with women without …