Using Veterans Health Data to Gain Insights on Sex Differences in Migraine and Stroke Risk: Elizabeth Seng, PhD
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Using Veterans Health Data to Gain Insights on Sex Differences in Migraine and Stroke Risk: Elizabeth Seng, PhD
Migraine affects a significant amount of the adult population in the U.S. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves approximately 9 million veterans annually. Since most patients in the VHA are men, the system offers an opportunity to better understand the presentation and management of migraine between genders. Elizabeth Seng, PhD, presented a session on the association between migraine and cardiovascular events, particularly ischemic stroke, among a cohort of veterans who received treatment in VHA system. She also talked about the methodological factors that can impact the use and interpretation of electronic health record data.
“A lot of times, providers put migraine with aura in the ‘risk bucket,’ and they don’t worry so much about stroke for people with migraine without aura. But these data, as well as data from other datasets, really show that yes, the risk may be higher in people with aura, but it’s still present even in people without aura. It’s something that we should be considering as clinicians.”
Migraine affects a significant amount of the adult population in the United States, with studies showing a higher prevalence observed in women. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves approximately 9 million veterans annually through a large network of medical centers and outpatient clinics. Since most patients in the VHA are men, the system offers an opportunity to better understand the presentation and management of migraine between genders.1
At the 2025 American Headache Society (AHS) Annual Meeting, held June 19-22 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Elizabeth Seng, PhD, professor of psychology at Yeshiva University and professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, presented a session on the association between migraine and cardiovascular events, particularly ischemic stroke, among a cohort of veterans who received treatment in the VHA system. In the session, Seng also talked about the methodological factors that can impact the use and interpretation of electronic health record data as well as the risk of ischemic stroke stratified by patient characteristics.2
Following the meeting, Seng spoke with NeurologyLive® to delve deeper on the research exploring the connection between migraine and long-term health outcomes using data from the VHA. Drawing from a large and diverse patient population, she noted that the study aimed to better understand how migraine may influence the risk of certain cardiovascular events. Seng also talked about how the research also considered how factors like age, sex, and migraine subtype could shape these associations, offering new insights into how clinicians might approach migraine management in different patient populations.
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REFERENCES
1. Seng EK, Fenton BT, Wang K, et al. Frequency, Demographics, Comorbidities, and Health Care Utilization by Veterans With Migraine: A VA Nationwide Cohort Study. Neurology. 2022;99(18):e1979-e1992. Published 2022 Oct 31. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000200888
2. Seng E. Migraine as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Events in the Veterans Health Administration (CL). Presented at: 2025 AHS Annual Meeting; June 19-22; Minneapolis, MN. Plenary 2: STROKE.