RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN PATIENTS 55 YEARS AND YOUNGER WITH MIGRAINE: A Comparative Outcomes Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology

Background:

• Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a significant cause of vision loss.
• Migraine is a common neurological disorder, and its association with vascular events is an area of ongoing research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between migraine history and the risk of developing retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in individuals aged 55 years or younger.
• To compare RVO incidence in young to middle-aged patients with migraine versus those without migraine.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the TriNetX platform, including over 3.4 million individuals.
• Patients aged 55 or younger with a migraine diagnosis were compared to a matched control group without migraine.
• Propensity score matching was utilized to balance demographic, BMI, and comorbidity profiles between the two cohorts.

Main Results:

• Individuals with a history of migraine showed a statistically significant increased risk of RVO (Relative Risk = 1.422, p < 0.001).
• This increased risk was observed for both central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
• The hazard ratio for RVO in the migraine cohort was 1.331 (p < 0.001), indicating a higher likelihood of RVO development over time.

Conclusions:

• A history of migraine is associated with an elevated risk of developing retinal vein occlusion in patients 55 years old or younger.
• These findings highlight a potential link between migraine and retinal vascular health, warranting further investigation.
• Ophthalmologists and neurologists should consider migraine history when assessing risk factors for RVO in younger patients.