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Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Dec 26. pii: S0002-9378(16)46208-3.

Use of combined hormonal contraceptives among women with migraines and risk of ischemic stroke

Champaloux SW, Tepper NK, Monsour M, Curtis KM, Whiteman MK, Marchbanks PA and Jamieson DJ

Abstract

Background: Migraine with aura and combined hormonal contraceptives are independently associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, little is known about whether there are any joint effects of migraine and hormonal contraceptives on risk of stroke.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of stroke in women of reproductive age and examine the association between combined hormonal contraceptive use, migraine type (with or without aura), and ischemic stroke.

Study design: This study used a nationwide health care claims database and employed a nested case control study design. Women ages 15-49 years with first-ever stroke during 2006-2012 were identified using the International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision-Clinical Modifications inpatient services diagnosis codes. Four controls were matched to each case based on age. Migraine headache with and without aura was identified using inpatient or outpatient diagnosis codes. Current combined hormonal contraceptive use was identified using the National Drug Code from the pharmacy database. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of ischemic stroke by migraine type and combined hormonal contraceptive use.

Results: Between 2006-2012, there were 25,887 ischemic strokes among women ages 15-49, for a cumulative incidence of 11 strokes per 100,000 women. Compared to women with neither migraine nor combined hormonal contraceptive use, the odds ratio of ischemic stroke was highest among women with migraine with aura using combined hormonal contraceptives (odds ratio 6.1, 95% confidence interval 3.1-12.1); odds ratios were also elevated for migraine with aura without combined hormonal contraceptive use (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.9-3.7), migraine without aura and combined hormonal contraceptive use (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.9), and migraine without aura without combined hormonal contraceptive use (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.9-2.7).

Conclusion: The joint effect of combined hormonal contraceptives and migraine with aura was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of ischemic stroke compared with neither risk factor. Use of combined hormonal contraceptives did not substantially further increase risk of ischemic stroke among women with migraine without aura. Determining migraine type is critical in assessing safety of combined hormonal contraceptives among women with migraine.

Comment: Migraine is considered a relative contraindication for combined hormonal contraceptives. This elegant study shows that it is important to check with the woman iwhether her migraine is preceded by an aura or not. A woman without auras can take a combined contraceptive without increasing her risk of stroke. (HMV)