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Migraine is associated with enhanced arterial stiffness

Tokihisa Nagai1, Yasuharu Tabara, Michiya Igase

  • 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Japan.

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|September 6, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Migraine is linked to increased arterial stiffness in older adults, a key factor in stroke. This study found migraine independently predicts higher arterial stiffness, suggesting a potential clinical marker.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Migraine is a common headache subtype.
  • Migraine is a potential independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, particularly in the elderly.
  • Arterial stiffness is a primary pathophysiological basis for stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between migraine and arterial stiffness in community-dwelling elderly subjects.
  • To determine if migraine is an independent predictor of arterial stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 272 community-dwelling subjects (Groups A and B).
  • Augmentation index (AI) from radial arterial waveform used as a measure of arterial stiffness.
  • Migraine diagnosed via a validated questionnaire; blood pressure and other factors recorded.

Main Results:

  • Subjects with migraine exhibited significantly higher radial AI compared to those without migraine.
  • Migraine was identified as an independent determinant of AI (p=0.002) after adjusting for confounders.
  • This association remained significant in separate analyses for both males and females.

Conclusions:

  • Migraine is associated with enhanced arterial stiffness in the elderly.
  • Migraine may serve as a clinical manifestation or indicator of increased arterial stiffness in older populations.
  • Findings suggest a potential link between migraine and cerebrovascular disease risk through arterial stiffness.

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