Associations Between Migraine and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Global, regional, and national burden and trends of migraine among women of childbearing age from 1990 to 2021: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND

Migraine, a neurological disorder with a significant female predilection, is the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in women of childbearing age (WCBA). There is currently a lack of comprehensive literature analysis on the overall global burden and changing trends of migraines in WCBA.

METHODS

This study extracted three main indicators, including prevalence, incidence, and DALYs, related to migraine in WCBA from the Global Burden of Disease(GBD) database from 1990 to 2021. Our study presented point estimates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). It evaluated the changing trends in the burden of migraine in WCBA using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and percentage change.

RESULTS

In 2021, the global prevalence, incidence, and DALYs cases of migraine among WCBA were 493.94 million, 33.33 million, and 18.25 million, respectively, with percentage changes of 48%, 43%, and 47% compared to 1990. Over the past 32 years, global prevalence rates and DALYs rates globally have increased, with an EAPC of 0.03 (95% UI: 0.02 to 0.05) and 0.04 (95% UI: 0.03 to 0.05), while incidence rates have decreased with an EAPC of -0.07 (95% UI: -0.08 to -0.05). Among the 5 Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions, in 2021, the middle SDI region recorded the highest cases of prevalence, incidence, and DALYs of migraine among WCBA, estimated at 157.1 million, 10.56 million, and 5.81 million, respectively, approximately one-third of the global total. In terms of age, in 2021, the global incidence cases for the age group 15-19 years were 5942.5 thousand, with an incidence rate per 100,000 population of 1957.02, the highest among all age groups. The total number of migraine cases and incidence rate among WCBA show an increasing trend with age, particularly in the 45-49 age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the burden of migraine among WCBA has significantly increased globally over the past 32 years, particularly within the middle SDI and the 45-49 age group. Research findings emphasize the importance of customized interventions aimed at addressing the issue of migraines in WCBA, thus contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 set by the World Health Organization.

Pharmacotherapy of Chronic Neuropsychiatric Conditions During Pregnancy

Many pregnant persons will experience neuropsychiatric conditions during pregnancy, including migraine, attention deficit disorder, depression, and anxiety. Treatment of each of these conditions requires shared decision-making among the individual, family, and health care team. Although medications may include risk, the benefits often outweigh the potential fetal risks. In this article, we review pharmacologic treatment options for each of these conditions and appropriate use in pregnancy to maintain the stability of conditions and to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.

Association between migraine and pre-eclampsia among pregnant women: a single hospital-based case-control study in India

BACKGROUND

Pre-eclampsia and migraine share some similar aspects of pathophysiology such as vascular function, platelet activation, and enhanced clotting. A few observational studies from different demographics showed that pregnant women with a history of migraine were at higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia. However, there is no such evidence available from the Indian context. Hence, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted among Indian women to determine the association between migraine and pre-eclampsia.

METHOD

It was a single-centre case-control study in a tertiary care hospital in India. Cases were pregnant women with clinically diagnosed pre-eclampsia, and controls were normotensive pregnant women. Migraine was diagnosed with a questionnaire adapted from the "International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), 3rd Edition" by the International Headache Society, (IHS). We performed logistic regression to explore the association between migraine and pre-eclampsia.

RESULT

One hundred sixty-four women (82 women per group) were enrolled. The mean age among the cases (24.5 years, standard deviation of 2.4 years) was slightly higher than the mean age of the controls (23.5 years, standard deviation of 2.5 years) with a p-value of 0.006. We found that women with a history of migraine were more likely to develop pre-eclampsia (Adjusted Odds Ratio 6.17; p-value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval of 2.85 to 13.62).

CONCLUSION

The current findings suggest a significant association between migraine and pre-eclampsia aligning with previous study findings; nevertheless, larger follow-up studies including women from different states in India are needed.

Trends in the prevalence and pharmacological management of migraine during pregnancy in the UK, 2000-2018

BACKGROUND

Migraine is common in women of reproductive age. This study aimed to (1) describe the prevalence of migraine in pregnant women in the UK, (2) identify drugs commonly prescribed for migraine during pregnancy and (3) identify characteristics associated with being prescribed medication for migraine during pregnancy.

METHODS

The Clinical Practice Research Datalink pregnancy register, a database of pregnancy episodes identified in anonymised primary care health records, was used.Crude and age-standardised prevalence of migraine during pregnancy and the proportion of women with migraine prescribed drugs used for migraine management were calculated for each year between 2000 and 2018.Logistic regression was used to describe the relationship between patient characteristics and being prescribed migraine medication during pregnancy.

RESULTS

1 377 053 pregnancies were included, of which 187 328 were in women with a history of migraine. The age-adjusted prevalence increased from 11.4% in 2000 to 17.2% in 2018. There was an increase in the rates of prescription for numerous medications for the management of migraine.Older women (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.41 (1.20 to 1.66)), women of black (aOR 1.40 (1.32 to 1.48)) and South Asian ethnicity (aOR 1.48 (1.38 to 1.59)), those living in the most deprived areas (aOR 1.60 (1.54 to 1.66)), women who were obese (aOR 1.39 (1.35 to 1.43)), smokers (aOR 1.15 (1.12 to 1.18)) and those with comorbid conditions were more likely to receive a prescription during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of recorded migraine have increased over the past two decades as well as rates of prescribing in women with migraine. Higher prescribing rates are seen in certain groups, which has the potential to exacerbate health inequalities.

How migraine and its associated treatment impact on pregnancy outcomes: Umbrella review with updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Migraine is common in reproductive aged women. Understanding the impact of migraine and associated treatments on pregnancy outcomes remains very important. An umbrella review of systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, examined the link between migraine and pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane to 27 October 2022. Quality appraisal was carried out using the AMSTAR2 tool. An established framework was used to determine whether included reviews were eligible for update.

RESULTS

Four studies met review criteria. Migraine was reported to be associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and peripartum mental illness (pooled OR = 3.54 (2.24-5.59)). Triptan-exposed women had increased odds of miscarriage compared to women without migraine (pooled OR = 3.54 (2.24-5.59)). In updated meta-analyses, migraine was associated with an increased odds of pre-eclampsia and preterm birth (pooled OR = 2.05 (1.47-2.84) and 1.26 (1.21-1.32) respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine is associated with increased odds of pre-eclampsia, peripartum mental illness and preterm birth. Further investigation of the relationship between migraine and placental abruption, low birth weight and small for gestational age is warranted, as well as the relationship between migraine, triptans and miscarriage risk.Systematic Review Registration: Prospero CRD42022357630.

Combined Impact of Migraine and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension on Long-term Risk of Premature Myocardial Infarction and Stroke

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Migraine and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) are known to increase cardiovascular risk on their own. However, evidence is limited on the combined impact of migraine and PIH on risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the combined impact of migraine and PIH on risk of premature (age 60 years and younger) major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite end point consisting of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death due to one of these diseases.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study in Denmark (1996-2018) among women who had delivered at least one child. This population was stratified into 4 cohorts: women with neither migraine nor PIH, women with migraine, women with PIH, and women with both migraine and PIH. As a measure of absolute risk, we computed the 20-year cumulative incidence of premature MACCE, treating death by other causes than myocardial infarction and stroke as a competing risk. We used Cox regression to compute 20-year adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of premature MACCE. Women with neither migraine nor PIH served as the comparison cohort.

RESULTS

The 20-year absolute risk of premature MACCE was 1.3% (95% CI 1.2%; 1.3%) for women without migraine and without PIH (n = 1,288,541), 2.2% (95% CI 2.0%; 2.4%) for women with migraine (n = 54,827), 2.8% (95% CI 2.6%; 3.1%) for women with PIH (n = 49,008), and 3.1% (95% CI 2.1%; 4.4%) for women with both migraine and PIH (n = 3,140). The adjusted HR of premature MACCE was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-1.84) for women with migraine, 2.76 (95% CI 2.52-3.03) for women with PIH, and 2.41 (95% CI 1.61-3.61) for women with both migraine and PIH.

DISCUSSION

Migraine and PIH separately increased the risk of premature MACCE. The risk of premature MACCE among women who had both migraine and PIH was similar to that among women with PIH only.

History of maternal migraine and its association with preeclampsia: A case-control study in a low-resource setting in Sudan, Africa

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported various levels of association between migraine and preeclampsia. However, there are no published data on migraine and its association with preeclampsia in African countries, including Sudan.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted at Rabak Maternity Hospital in White Nile State, Central Sudan. The cases were pregnant women with preeclampsia, while the controls were healthy pregnant women. All participants were interviewed using questionnaire. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated in a multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of 148 pregnant women with preeclampsia, 96 (64.9%) women had mild preeclampsia and 52 (35.1%) women had severe preeclampsia. Of the 148 study participants with preeclampsia, 57 (38.5%) had a history of migraine and 19/296 (6.4%) women in control group had a history of migraine (p < 0.001). Pregnant women with a history of migraine have higher odds of preeclampsia than pregnant women without a history of migraine (AOR = 9.01, 95% CI = 4.81-16.86). A history of preeclampsia, being overweight and obesity were associated with preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION

Our findings are consistent with the findings of previous studies on the association between migraine and preeclampsia. More studies are needed on this topic.

Determination of the Frequency of Migraine Attacks in Pregnant Women and the Ways They Cope with Headaches: A Cross-Sectional Study

One out of every five women of reproductive age suffers from migraine. Although headaches subside in most women during pregnancy, attacks continue and even worsen in some women. Pregnant women try to relieve pain with medication or non-pharmacological treatment methods. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the incidence of migraine attacks in pregnant women diagnosed with migraine and the ways they cope with headaches. The study included 191 pregnant women who were diagnosed with migraine in the pre-pregnancy period. McNemar analysis was performed to test the relationship between descriptive statistical methods and categorical variables when the data were analyzed. The mean gestational age of the participants was 28.31 ± 8.64 weeks, and their mean age at the onset of migraine was 20.74 ± 5.63 years. The comparison of the duration, frequency, and severity of headaches suffered before and during pregnancy demonstrated that there were statistical differences between them (p < 0.05). The frequency of using methods such as taking painkillers, resting in a dark room, and having cold application and massage to relieve headaches before pregnancy decreased statistically significantly during pregnancy (p < 0.05). As a result, the frequency and severity of migraines decrease during pregnancy. The tendency to resort to pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods used to relieve headaches decreases during pregnancy. Although migraine has many adverse effects on pregnancy, pregnant women do not demand satisfactory information from health professionals about migraine headaches during pregnancy.

Migraine and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Migraine is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy through common pathophysiological features. This study evaluates the association between migraine diagnosis and treatment, and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD, a large longitudinal database of patient records in the UK. We analyzed data from liveborn or stillborn singleton deliveries from 1993-2020 with at least 24 months of medical history and no history of cardiovascular disease (n = 1,049,839). We ascertained migraine through diagnosis or prescription codes before 20 weeks of gestation and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy through diagnosis codes between 20 weeks of pregnancy and delivery. We used log-binomial regression models to estimate the risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals, comparing risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among individuals with migraine to those without migraine, adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of migraine prior to pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.09-1.26). The greatest risk was among those with pre-pregnancy migraine that persisted into the first trimester (RR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.35-2.50). Use of migraine medication was associated with a higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared to non-migraineurs (RR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.15-1.97). Results from this study indicate that migraine is a potential risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Safety profile of monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide system in pregnancy: Updated analysis in VigiBase®

BACKGROUND

Safety data on the use of migraine preventive monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system in pregnancy are limited.

METHODS

Updated pharmacovigilance assessment of the safety reports related to pregnancy associated with erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab and eptinezumab, retrieved from VigiBase® as of 31 December 2021. As primary outcome, the whole group of monoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP system was considered and sex and age subgroup disproportionality analyses using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) were conducted.

RESULTS

286 safety reports were found: 116 (40.6%) on erenumab, 125 (43.7%) on galcanezumab, 39 (13.6%) on fremanezumab, 6 (2.1%) on eptinezumab. One hundred and forty-nine (52.1%) safety reports reported only drug exposure in relation to pregnancy while 137 (47.9%) also included ≥1 pregnancy outcomes: maternal outcomes (n = 64), spontaneous abortion (n = 63), foetal growth restriction (n = 1), prematurity (n = 8), neonatal outcomes (n = 13), and poor breastfeeding (n = 1). No specific patterns of maternal, foetal and neonatal toxicity were observed. Spontaneous abortion was not disproportionally more frequently reported with erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab and eptinezumab compared with the entire database (ROR 1.1, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.8-1.5), the entire database since 2018 (ROR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.8), and triptans (ROR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-1.9).

CONCLUSIONS

This updated safety analysis on erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab and eptinezumab in pregnancy showed no signals of foeto-maternal toxicity according to VigiBase® safety reports.

Headaches in Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 3

PURPOSE

To provide updated evidence-based recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of primary and secondary headaches in pregnancy and postpartum.

TARGET POPULATION

Pregnant and postpartum patients with a history of or experiencing primary or new secondary headaches.

METHODS

This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of two specialists in obstetrics and gynecology appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and one external subject matter expert. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on interventions to prevent primary headache in individuals who are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding; evaluation for symptomatic patients presenting with primary and secondary headaches during pregnancy; and treatment options for primary and secondary headaches during pregnancy and lactation. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Perinatal Outcomes of Placental Abruption-Detailed Annual Data and Clinical Perspectives from Polish Tertiary Center

Placental abruption (PA) is a separation of the placenta from the uterine wall occurring with the fetus still present in the uterine cavity. It contributes to numerous neonatal and maternal complications, increasing morbidity and mortality. We conducted a retrospective study at a tertiary perinatal care center, which included 2210 cases of labor that took place in 2015 with a PA occurrence of 0.7%. No maternal or fetal death during delivery was reported in this period. The identified PA risk factors were uterine malformations, pPROM, placenta previa spectrum, and oligohydramnios. The significant maternal PA complications identified were maternal anemia, uterine rupture, and HELLP syndrome. Preterm delivery occurred significantly more often in the PA group, and the number of weeks of pregnancy and the birth weight at delivery were both significantly lower in the PA group. PA is a relatively rare perinatal complication with very serious consequences, and it still lacks effective prophylaxis and treatment. Despite its rare occurrence, each center should develop a certain strategy for dealing with this pathology or predicting which patients are at risk. Much work is still needed to ensure the proper care of the mother and the baby in this life-threatening condition.

Population-Based Study of Nonelective Postpartum Readmissions in Women With Stroke, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, and Myasthenia Gravis

OBJECTIVE

To compare maternal obstetric complications and nonelective readmissions in women with common neurologic comorbidities (WWN) vs women without neurologic disorders.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of index characteristics and acute postpartum, nonelective rehospitalizations from the 2015-2017 National Readmissions Database using ICD-10 codes. Wald χ² testing compared baseline demographic, hospital, and clinical characteristics and postpartum complications between WWN (including previous stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis [MS], and myasthenia gravis [MG]) and controls. Multivariable logistic regression models examined odds of postpartum complications and nonelective readmissions within 30 and 90 days for each neurologic comorbidity compared to controls (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 7,612 women with previous stroke, 83,430 women with migraine, 6,760 women with MS, 843 women with MG, and 8,136,335 controls met the criteria for index admission after viable infant delivery. WWN were more likely than controls to have inpatient diagnoses of edema, proteinuria, or hypertensive disorders and to have received maternal care for poor fetal growth. The adjusted odds of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention severe maternal morbidity indicator were greater for women with previous stroke (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 8.53, 95% CI 7.24-10.06), migraine (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.85-2.26), and MG (AOR 4.45, 95% CI 2.45-8.08) (all p < 0.0001). Readmission rates at 30 and 90 days for WWN were higher than for controls (30 days: previous stroke 2.9%, migraine 1.7%, MS 1.8%, MG 4.3%, controls 1.1%; 90 days: previous stroke 3.7%, migraine 2.5%, MS 5.1%, MG 6.0%, controls 1.6%). Women with MG had the highest adjusted odds of readmission (30 days: AOR 3.96, 95% CI 2.37-6.65, p < 0.0001; 90 days: AOR 3.30, 95% CI 1.88-5.78, p < 0.0001).

DISCUSSION

WWN may be at higher risk of severe maternal morbidity at the time of index delivery and postpartum readmission. More real-world evidence is needed to develop research infrastructure and create efficacious interventions to optimize maternal-fetal outcomes in WWN, especially for women with previous stroke or MG.

Hypertension in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Blood Pressure Goals, and Pharmacotherapy: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain one of the major causes of pregnancy-related maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Affected women are also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life, independently of traditional cardiovascular disease risks. Despite the immediate and long-term cardiovascular disease risks, recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of HDP in the United States have changed little, if at all, over past decades, unlike hypertension guidelines for the general population. The reasons for this approach include the question of benefit from normalization of blood pressure treatment for pregnant women, coupled with theoretical concerns for fetal well-being from a reduction in utero-placental perfusion and in utero exposure to antihypertensive medication. This report is based on a review of current literature and includes normal physiological changes in pregnancy that may affect clinical presentation of HDP; HDP epidemiology and the immediate and long-term sequelae of HDP; the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, an HDP commonly associated with proteinuria and increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous disease with different clinical phenotypes and likely distinct pathological mechanisms; a critical overview of current national and international HDP guidelines; emerging evidence that reducing blood pressure treatment goals in pregnancy may reduce maternal severe hypertension without increasing the risk of pregnancy loss, high-level neonatal care, or overall maternal complications; and the increasingly recognized morbidity associated with postpartum hypertension/preeclampsia. Finally, we discuss the future of research in the field and the pressing need to study socioeconomic and biological factors that may contribute to racial and ethnic maternal health care disparities.

Migraine and Medical Ramifications: A Comprehensive Overview Based on Observational Study Meta-Analyses

Purpose: An umbrella review was conducted for comprehensively evaluating previous review-based literature together with meta-analysis of observational investigations probing correlations between migraine and medical end-point ramifications in patients. The breadth and validity of these associations were assessed.

Methods: Multiple online scientific repositories (including PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science) were investigated (inception-August 2021) for related meta-analyses focusing on links between migraine and all possible health/medical ramification end-points. A summary effect size and 95% CIs were determined for each identified study with such links. Heterogeneity and small-study influence traces were also evaluated. The AMSTAR 2 platform was employed for evaluating standards of methodology, together with objective criteria, for assessing the standards of datasets from each medical end-point scrutinized in this study.

Results: A total of 25 scientific reports comprising 10,237,230 participants for 49 meta-analyses of observational studies were selected. Among such 49 outcomes, 30 demonstrated statistical significance (P < 0.05). Significant associations were observed in multiple diseases, including cardiovascular/cerebrovascular, cerebral, pregnancy-related and metabolic disorders, other outcomes, and mortality.

Conclusion: The results showed that migraine increased the risk of 29 health outcomes, though lowered the risk of breast cancer. However, evidence quality was graded as high only for angina. The evidence quality of ischaemic stroke, stroke, MACCE, WMAs, and asthma was graded as moderate. All remaining 24 outcomes had an evidence grade of “weak.”

Dihydroergotamine and triptan use to treat migraine during pregnancy and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Migraine is prevalent during pregnancy. Antimigraine medications such as dihydroergotamine (DHE) and triptans have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in individual studies but lack of consensus remains. We compared the risk of prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), major congenital malformations (MCM), and spontaneous abortions (SA) associated with gestational use of DHE or triptans. Three cohort and one nested-case–control analyses were conducted within the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort to assess the risk of prematurity, LBW, MCM, and SA. Exposure was defined dichotomously as use of DHE or triptan during pregnancy. Generalized estimation equations were built to quantify the associations, adjusting for potential confounders. 233,900 eligible pregnancies were included in the analyses on prematurity, LBW, and MCM; 29,104 cases of SA were identified. Seventy-eight subjects (0.03%) were exposed to DHE and 526 (0.22%) to triptans. Adjusting for potential confounders, DHE and triptans were associated with increased risks of prematurity, LBW, MCM, and SA but not all estimates were statistically significant. DHE was associated with the risk of prematurity (aRR: 4.12, 95% CI 1.21–13.99); triptans were associated with the risk of SA (aOR: 1.63, 95% CI 1.34–1.98). After considering maternal migraine, all antimigraine specific medications increased the risk of some adverse pregnancy outcomes, but estimates were unstable.

Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

IMPORTANCE

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that poses serious maternal and infant health risks. Previous systematic reviews have established benefits of low-dose aspirin taken during pregnancy to prevent preeclampsia and its sequelae.

OBJECTIVE

To update evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on effectiveness of aspirin use in preventing preeclampsia in individuals at increased risk based on clinical risk factors or measurements associated with higher disease incidence than in the general population.

DATA SOURCES

Studies from previous USPSTF review (2014), literature published January 2013 through May 15, 2020, in MEDLINE, PubMed (for publisher-supplied records only), EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Ongoing surveillance through January 22, 2021.

STUDY SELECTION

Good- and fair-quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of low-dose aspirin use during pregnancy to prevent preeclampsia among individuals at increased risk; studies conducted in general populations to evaluate potential harms.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Dual article screening and risk-of-bias assessment. Study data abstracted into prespecified forms, checked for accuracy. Random-effects meta-analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Diagnosis of preeclampsia; adverse pregnancy health outcomes and complications including eclampsia, perinatal mortality, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and potential bleeding harms or infant/child harms from aspirin exposure.

RESULTS

A total of 23 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) (N = 26 952) were included; 18 were conducted among participants at increased preeclampsia risk. Aspirin dosages ranged from 50 mg/d to 150 mg/d. Most trials enrolled majority White populations selected based on a range of risk factors. The incidence of preeclampsia among the trials of participants at increased risk ranged from 4% to 30%. Aspirin use was significantly associated with lower risk of preeclampsia (pooled relative risk [RR], 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.95]; 16 RCTs [n = 14 093]; I2 = 0%), perinatal mortality (pooled RR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.66-0.96]; 11 RCTs [n = 13 860]; I2 = 0%), preterm birth (pooled RR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; 13 RCTs [n = 13 619]; I2 = 49%), and intrauterine growth restriction (pooled RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.68-0.99]; 16 RCTs [n = 14 385]; I2 = 41%). There were no significant associations of aspirin use with risk of postpartum hemorrhage (pooled RR, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.94-1.12]; 9 RCTs [n = 23 133]; I2 = 0%) and other bleeding-related harms, or with rare perinatal or longer-term harms. Absolute risk reductions for preeclampsia associated with aspirin use ranged from -1% to -6% across larger trials (n >300) and were greater in smaller trials. For perinatal mortality, absolute risk reductions ranged from 0.5% to 1.1% in the 3 largest trials.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Daily low-dose aspirin during pregnancy was associated with lower risks of serious perinatal outcomes for individuals at increased risk for preeclampsia, without evident harms.

Revised guidelines of the French headache society for the diagnosis and management of migraine in adults. Part 2: Pharmacological treatment

The French Headache Society proposes updated French guidelines for the management of migraine. This article presents the second part of the guidelines, which is focused on the pharmacological treatment of migraine, including both the acute treatment of attacks and the prophylaxis of episodic migraine as well as chronic migraine with and without medication overuse. The specific situations that can be encountered in women with migraine are also discussed, including pregnancy, menstrual migraine, contraception and hormonal replacement therapy.

Headache in Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Women are greatly overrepresented among patients seeking treatment for symptoms of headache pain in general and migraine in particular. Understanding the presentation of headache in women in relation to hormonal changes both during the menstrual cycle and throughout the life span is essential for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although perimenstrual migraine attacks are generally without aura, the diagnosis of migraine with aura has been added to the headache classification for menstrual migraine to account for women with the diagnosis of migraine with aura who experience menstrual migraine attacks. Emerging knowledge regarding the differences between menstrual and nonmenstrual attacks, the variability of attack triggering within and between women, and the response of women with menstrually related migraine to new migraine drug classes is contributing to better understanding and more effective treatment of these particularly burdensome and refractory attacks. Given the burden of migraine, almost one-fourth of women with migraine avoid or delay pregnancy. Women who experience migraine during pregnancy are more likely to have a hypertensive disorder and stroke during pregnancy and/or delivery and the postpartum period. Treatment of headache in general and migraine in particular in pregnancy is challenging because of fetal and maternal risks; however, a 2021 systematic review suggests that triptans and low-dose aspirin may not be associated with fetal/child adverse effects and could be more strongly considered for headache treatment in pregnancy.

SUMMARY

Headache in general and migraine in particular are extraordinarily common in women of reproductive age and fluctuate with hormonal changes and phases of life. Improved knowledge of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and response to treatment of perimenstrual attacks is essential for more effective response to this most burdensome headache type. Treatment of headache in pregnancy remains challenging.

De novo Migraine with Aura in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report and Literature review

Background

Among all headache disorders, migraine has the highest prevalence during gestation. The majority of migraineurs experience improvement during pregnancy, but a few may experience migraine for the first time. This poses a diagnostic challenge in the differential diagnosis between primary and life-threatening secondary headache disorders. Because pregnancy itself is an independent risk factor for secondary headache disorders, it is mandatory to exclude these conditions in order to diagnose migraine. There is a large body of literature about pre-existing migraine course during pregnancy and its link with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but there are no studies examining these aspects among women with new-onset migraine during pregnancy.

Case report

A 31-year-old female at 33 weeks of gestation (gravida 2, para 2) was referred to the neurologist eds disturbances, which were followed by pressing severe headache, rated as 8 out of 10 on a numeric rating scale and accompanied by dizziness. The headache lasted for one day, and dizziness continued to the following day. The patient was investigated for a secondary headache disorder, but laboratory and neuroimaging results were unremarkable. A migraine with aura was diagnosed. The patient was advised to keep a consistent sleep schedule, maintain regular low physical activity, eat regularly and take magnesium supplementation. The patient was informed about a safe treatment approach in case of an acute attack. At 40 weeks of gestation the patient delivered female newborn, weighing 3750g, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9 (due to a nuchal cord). The postpartum period was uneventful. During the subsequent 4 years, the patient did not experience any recurrent migraine attacks and had no pregnancies.

Conclusion

In order to diagnose a migraine during pregnancy, exclusion of secondary headache disorders is mandatory. Pregnant migraineur should be regularly monitored for adverse birth outcomes. It is essential to educate patients, provide information about the safe treatment of migraine attacks, and explain nonpharmacological prevention and supplementation benefits.

A systematic review and meta-analyses on the prevalence of pregnancy outcomes in migraine treated patients: a contribution from the IMI2 ConcePTION project

The present study aims to summarize the safety profile of the medications used to treat migraine during pregnancy by performing a systematic review and meta-analyses. The term "migrain*" combined with pregnancy terms were used to search Embase, PubMed, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science through 31 December 2020. Pooled prevalences of untreated and treated migraine patients were estimated using MetaXL software. Pooled odds ratios (OR) using random effects models were estimated in RevMan 5. All the identified studies assessed medications used to treat acute migraine. The pooled prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients prescribed any migraine medication ranged from 0.4% (95% CI 0.2-0.7%) for stillbirth to 12.0% (95%CI 7.8-16.9%) for spontaneous abortions. Among untreated patients with migraine, the pooled prevalence of the assessed pregnancy outcomes ranged from 0.6% (95% CI: 0-1.7%) for stillbirth to 10.4% (95% CI: 8.9-12%) for gestational age < 37 weeks. Given the limited data, it was only possible to perform OR meta-analyses for triptans. The adjusted ORs for triptan users compared the general population were: for major malformations 1.07 (95%CI: 0.83-1.39, p = 0.60); birth weight < 2500g 1.18 (95%CI: 0.94-1.48, p = 0.16); gestational age < 37 weeks 1.49 (95% CI: 0.37-6.08, p = 0.58). In conclusion, triptans do not appear to increase the risk of pregnancy outcomes when compared to the general population. It was not possible to assess other migraine medications. Further studies are needed to investigate the safety of individual medications of acute and prophylactic migraine treatment among pregnant women.

Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, November 2020

An extensive review of new resources to support the provision of evidence-based care for women and infants. The current column includes a discussion of diversity in the maternity care workforce and commentaries on reviews focused on burnout in midwifery and a cross-national comparison of guidelines for uncomplicated childbirth.