According to a large prospective study, pregnant women with a history of migraine have a higher risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, and of delivering a baby preterm.

The study also noted an association between migraine with aura and increased risk for preeclampsia. Investigators assessed data on 30,555 pregnancies in nearly 19,000 women without a history of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer over a 20-year period ending in 2009. The data were obtained from the Nurses Health Study II. The study participants filled questionnaires every 2 years, providing information on different health conditions and pregnancy and reproductive events. Around 11% of the women had migraine diagnosed prior to pregnancy. In comparison with women without a history of migraine, those with a migraine history had higher risk for preterm delivery (relative risk [RR] 1.17), gestational hypertension (RR 1.28), and preeclampsia (RR 1.40). History of migraine was not linked with low birth weight (RR 0.99) or gestational diabetes (RR 1.05).

The findings will be presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2022 Annual Meeting… (Medscape)