From the Guidelines
Migraine risk factors include female sex, high headache frequency, inadequate treatment, overuse of acute medications, and comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and obesity. These factors are recognized as contributing to the transformation from episodic to chronic migraine, which can occur in up to 3% of patients with episodic migraine each year 1. Key risk factors for migraine include:
- Female sex
- High headache frequency
- Inadequate treatment
- Overuse of acute medications
- Comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and obesity, as identified in a 2021 study published in Nature Reviews Neurology 1. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for good clinical management, as their modification can prevent transformation to chronic migraine. By recognizing and addressing these risk factors, individuals with migraine can make lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing chronic migraine, and healthcare providers can develop personalized prevention and treatment strategies.
From the Research
Risk Factors for Migraine
The following are some of the key risk factors for migraine:
- Environmental factors such as stress, sleep dysfunction, fasting, hormonal changes, weather patterns, dietary compounds, and sensory stimuli can contribute to the evolution of episodic migraine into chronic migraine (CM) 2
- Genetic factors, with over 100 genetic loci linked to migraine, emphasizing a significant genetic basis for migraine susceptibility 2
- Poorly optimized acute headache treatment, cutaneous allodynia, acute medication overuse, selected psychiatric symptoms, extra-cephalic chronic pain conditions, metabolism-related comorbidities, sleep disturbances, respiratory conditions, former/current high caffeine intake, physical inactivity, financial constraints, tobacco use, and personal triggers 3
- Lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, diet, and physical activity can contribute to migraine attack occurrence 4
Demographic and Disease-Related Factors
Some demographic and disease-related factors can also increase the risk of migraine, including:
- Age and sex, with migraine being more common in women than men
- Family history of migraine, with individuals having a first-degree relative with migraine being more likely to develop migraine
- Presence of other comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders
Importance of Understanding Risk Factors
Understanding the risk factors for migraine is crucial for advancing therapeutic approaches and preventive strategies 2. Recognizing risk factors for migraine progression can allow healthcare providers to suggest protective actions against migraine progression 3.