Propranolol May Reduce Overall Stroke Risk in Women With Migraine

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Propranolol is associated with a reduced risk for overall stroke among women with migraine, with a more pronounced protective effect for ischemic stroke, according to a study presented at the annual American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference, held from Feb. 5 to 7 in Los Angeles.

Mulubrhan Mogos, Ph.D., from the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee, and colleagues conducted a retrospective case-control study to examine the role of propranolol in reducing stroke risk among patients with migraine. A total of 378 stroke cases (patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke after the first onset of migraine) and 15,209 controls (patients with no stroke diagnosis after the first onset of migraine) were identified from the Synthetic Derivative (SD) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, while 267 cases and 6,579 controls were included from the All of Us database.

The researchers found that in female patients with migraine, propranolol was significantly associated with a reduced risk for overall stroke (odds ratios, 0.52 in SD and 0.39 in All of Us), but this association was not seen in male patients. A more pronounced protective effect was seen for ischemic stroke and in women with migraine without aura. Cumulative incidence analyses showed lower stroke rates at multiple time points.

“Many women suffer from migraines, and it”s important to note that propranolol may be beneficial for these women, particularly those who experience migraine without aura,” Mogos said in a statement. “This is an important discovery for those dealing with migraines.”

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