Migraine linked to hypertension in teens

Adolescents with migraine appear to have an increased likelihood of hypertension, as suggested in a large cross-sectional study.

The study included 2,155 077 adolescents (mean age 17.2 years) who underwent pre-enlistment screening for mandatory military service. All of them were screened for hypertension, and those who screened positive underwent a comprehensive evaluation to confirm the diagnosis. Migraine diagnoses were ascertained via examinations by board-certified neurologists.

Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between migraine and hypertension, with adjustment for potential confounders.

Migraine was diagnosed in 61,314 adolescents, of which 444 (0.7 percent) also received a diagnosis of hypertension. Among adolescents without migraine, 4,570 (0.2 percent) received a diagnosis of hypertension. The difference in the number of hypertension diagnosis was significant, with the odds being threefold greater among adolescents with vs without migraine (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.01, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 2.72–3.33).

The odds of receiving a diagnosis of hypertension were even greater among adolescents with severe migraine (adjusted OR, 4.41, 95 percent CI, 3.87–5.03).

Notably, the associations were pronounced for a diagnosis of severe hypertension (adjusted OR, 3.34, 95 percent CI, 2.92–3.82) than for a diagnosis of mild hypertension (adjusted OR, 2.67, 95 percent CI, 2.30–3.10).

The findings underscore the importance of targeted hypertension screening for adolescents with migraine to facilitate early detection and management.