# Cardiovascular Health Status, Migraine Risk, and Mortality Outcomes in Migraine Individuals: Insights From NHANES

**Authors:** Hongwei Liu, Wenzhi Niu, Gaiying Ma, Haixia Fan, Minheng Zhang, Yu Wang, Mingni Yang

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71162 · Brain and Behavior · 2025-12-31

## TL;DR

Better cardiovascular health is linked to lower migraine risk and improved survival in migraine sufferers.

## Contribution

This study shows that higher cardiovascular health reduces both migraine risk and mortality in migraine individuals.

## Key findings

- Higher Life's Simple 7 scores are associated with a 43% lower likelihood of migraines.
- Better cardiovascular health correlates with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in migraine individuals.
- A non-linear inverse relationship exists between cardiovascular health and migraine risk.

## Abstract

The study analyzes the link between cardiovascular health, measured through the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score, and the potential risk of migraines. Moreover, the research delves into the possibility that better cardiovascular health might lessen overall and cardiovascular‐related mortality rates in people with migraines.

Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Associations between Life's Simple 7 scores and migraine risk were assessed using logistic and restricted cubic spline regressions, with subgroup analyses to examine variations across demographic groups. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline regressions evaluated the impact of Life's Simple 7 scores on all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality.

The likelihood of experiencing migraines was significantly lower with higher Life's Simple 7 scores (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87–0.94, p < 0.001). Those maintaining ideal cardiovascular health were 43% less likely to suffer from migraines than individuals with poor cardiovascular health (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.74, p < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis suggested a non‐linear inverse connection between Life's Simple 7 scores and migraine risk, while a linear inverse connection was identified between Life's Simple 7 scores and both all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality among migraine individuals. According to Cox proportional hazards models, higher Life's Simple 7 scores correlated with a decrease in all‐cause mortality (HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80–0.97, p = 0.009) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.86, p = 0.002) in individuals with migraines.

The Life's Simple 7 score suggests that maintaining excellent cardiovascular health is connected to a decreased risk of migraines and better survival outcomes for migraine sufferers.

Higher levels of cardiovascular health, as assessed by the Life's Simple 7 score, are associated with a reduced risk of incident migraine and are significantly linked to improved all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality outcomes among individuals with migraine.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** migraine (MONDO:0005277)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Migraine (MESH:D008881)

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

57 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12755968/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12755968