Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Migraine and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review
Adrian Scutelnic1, Heinrich P Mattle1, Mattia Branca2
1Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Background And Purpose:
Patients with migraine are at increased risk of stroke. The aim was to systematically review the current literature on the association between migraine and atrial fibrillation, which is a relevant risk factor for stroke.
Methods:
PubMed was searched for 'migraine' AND 'atrial fibrillation' and selected original investigations on the association of migraine and atrial fibrillation for our analysis. Articles without original data, such as guidelines, narrative reviews, editorials and others, were excluded.
Results:
In all, 109 publications were found. Twenty-two were included and analysed for this review. The population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study showed a significant association of migraine with visual aura and incident atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.62, p = 0.02), but not for migraine without aura, compared to non-headache persons after multivariable adjustment for vascular risk factors. An even larger population-based study in Denmark confirmed this association (odds ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.16-1.36). Studies investigating patients with ischaemic stroke and migraine are methodologically insufficient and provide contradictory results. Ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with migraine might reduce migraine attacks, but transient post-ablation new-onset migraine-like headaches in persons without a history of migraine have also been reported.
Conclusion:
Population-based studies indicate a significant association of migraine with aura and atrial fibrillation. In practical terms, screening for atrial fibrillation in patients who have a long history of migraine might be reasonable, whereas in patients with stroke or other disorders and migraine extensive screening for atrial fibrillation should be performed as in all patients without migraine.
More Related Videos
28:13Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
08:10Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Dysrhythmias II: Classification of Tachyarrhythmias
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias