Migraine with aura was associated with increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a recent study, which may potentially lead to ischemic strokes. In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, participants were interviewed for migraine history from 1993 through 1995 and were followed for incident AF through 2013. AF was adjudicated using electrocardiograms (ECGs), discharge codes, and death certificates. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to study the relation between migraine and its subtypes with incident AF, compared with controls without headaches. Researchers found:
- Of 11,939 participants assessed for headache and without prior AF or stroke, 426 reported migraine with visual aura, 1090 migraine without visual aura, 1018 non-migraine headache, and 9405 no headache.
- Over a 20-year follow-up period, incident AF was noted in 232 (15%) of 1516 with migraine and 1623 (17%) of 9405 without headache.
- After adjustment for multiple confounders, migraine with visual aura was associated with increased risk of AF compared to no headache as well as when compared to migraine without visual aura.
Sen S, Androulakis XM, Duda V, et al. Migraine with visual aura is a risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation. A cohort study. [Published online ahead of print December 11, 2018]. Neurology. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000006650.