What does this research mean for the field?

Migraine in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke is not associated with increased aortic stiffness or impaired left ventricular function, suggesting that macrovascular dysfunction is not the primary link between migraine and cardiovascular risk. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether migraine is associated with increased aortic stiffness and impaired left ventricular cardiac function in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke.

May 24, 2026BMC NeurologyOpen Access

Aortic stiffness and cardiac function in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke with and without migraine

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Ischemic stroke and migraine (n=118). Intervention: Ischemic stroke with migraine vs. No history of stroke or migraine. Primary outcome: Aortic arch pulse wave velocity (arch PWV) (Adjusted mean difference -0.03, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.54).

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Key result

Ischemic stroke with migraine in middle-aged women shows no difference in aortic arch PWV versus controls.

Adjusted mean difference -0.03
95% CI -0.60 to 0.54
n=118

Why the study?

Migraine increases the risk of ischemic stroke and cardiovascular disease in women, potentially via systemic vascular dysfunction, but its association with aortic stiffness and cardiac function was unknown.

Does ischemic stroke with or without migraine associate with increased aortic stiffness and impaired cardiac function in middle-aged women?

Key Points

To determine whether migraine is associated with increased aortic stiffness and impaired left ventricular cardiac function in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke.
Conducted a cross-sectional study of 118 women aged 40–60 years divided into three groups: ischemic stroke (n=44), ischemic stroke with migraine (n=44), and no stroke or migraine (n=30).
Measured aortic arch pulse wave velocity (arch PWV) using 2D-phase contrast MRI, and left ventricular systolic function (stroke volume, cardiac output, ejection fraction) using cine MRI.
Used multivariable linear regression to estimate adjusted mean differences in vascular and cardiac measures, using women without stroke or migraine as the reference.
In the reference group, mean (SD) values were 6.97 (1.05) m/s for arch PWV, 95.91 (15.82) mL for stroke volume, 6.73 (1.61) L/min for cardiac output, and 64.90 (5.96)% for ejection fraction.
Mean arch PWV was 7.11 (1.53) m/s in women with stroke and migraine, showing no statistically significant adjusted mean difference (-0.03 m/s; 95% CI: -0.60 to 0.54 m/s) compared with the reference group.
No statistically significant mean differences in stroke volume, cardiac output, or ejection fraction were observed when comparing either ischemic stroke group with the reference group.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=118)

Blinding

Blinded observers

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does ischemic stroke with or without migraine associate with increased aortic stiffness and impaired cardiac function in middle-aged women?

Population

118 women aged 40-60 years (mean age 51 years [SD 5]), divided into three groups: (I) ischemic stroke (n=44), (II) ischemic stroke with migraine (n=44), and (III) no history of stroke or migraine (n=30).

Intervention

Ischemic stroke with migraine (Group II) and Ischemic stroke without migraine (Group I)

Comparator

No history of stroke or migraine (Group III)

Outcome

Aortic stiffness (aortic arch pulse wave velocity [arch PWV]) and cardiac function (stroke volume [SV], cardiac output [CO], ejection fraction [EF]) measured by high-temporal 2D-phase contrast MRIsurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: Adjusted mean difference -0.03 (95% CI -0.60 to 0.54)

Absolute Event Rate: 7.11% vs 6.97%

In middle-aged women with ischemic stroke, a history of migraine was not associated with increased aortic stiffness or impaired left ventricular function, suggesting macrovascular dysfunction is not the primary link between migraine and cardiovascular risk.

Limitations

Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference
Stroke etiologies differed between groups
Only women included, limiting generalizability to men
Small sample size may have limited ability to detect differences
Potential unmeasured confounders such as heart rate and medication use
Selection bias due to different recruitment strategies for stroke and reference groups
Potential recall bias for self-reported migraine characteristics

Discussion

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Implication

No evidence linking aortic stiffness to migraine-stroke association; leaves open microvascular mechanisms for targeted investigation.

Cite This Study

Ali et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Ischemic stroke and migraine (n=118). Ischemic stroke with migraine vs. No history of stroke or migraine was evaluated on Aortic arch pulse wave velocity (arch PWV) (Adjusted mean difference -0.03, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.54). Ischemic stroke with migraine in middle-aged women was not associated with a significant difference in aortic arch pulse wave velocity compared to controls (adjusted mean difference -0.03 m/s).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a12966a48a0ea1665673307 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-026-04960-z

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Aortic stiffness and cardiac function in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke with and without migraine

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Aortic stiffness and cardiac function in middle-aged women with ischemic stroke with and without migraine

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

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