Parental migraine in relation to migraine in offspring: Family linkage analyses from the HUNT Study

Abstract

Background Migraine is known to run in families. While some clinical studies have indicated that migraine is disproportionally transmitted through the maternal line, this has not been examined in a population-based setting. Methods We utilized a large, population-based cohort study from Norway, the HUNT Study. Using a cross-sectional design, our sample consisted of 13,731 parents and 8970 offspring. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for active migraine and non-migrainous headache in offspring, given active maternal or paternal headache. Results There was a significant association between maternal migraine and offspring migraine (odds ratio 2.76, 95% confidence interval 2.18–3.51). A weaker association (p = 0.004 for comparison with maternal migraine) was found between paternal migraine and offspring migraine (odds ratio 1.67, 95% confidence interval 1.33–2.28). For non-migrainous headache, there was a significant association between mothers and offspring (odds ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.43), but not between fathers and offspring. Conclusions Parental migraine is associated with offspring migraine, with a stronger association for maternal migraine. This may indicate maternal-specific transmission.