New MARS+ Calculator Assesses Stroke Risk in Migraine Patients to Guide Prevention

A new study led by Dr. Piotr Melikow, a neurologist specializing in headaches and migraines, has developed the MARS+ calculator to estimate individual stroke risk among migraine sufferers. Conducted in collaboration with U.S. researchers, the study analyzed data from 15,279 participants collected since the mid-1980s, identifying 1,485 individuals with migraine with or without aura. These participants were followed for over 20 years to monitor stroke and cardiovascular events.

The MARS+ tool integrates classical stroke risk factors with migraine-specific characteristics and common migraine medications. Researchers identified 11 significant risk factors including age, blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, certain medications, migraine with aura, and migraines developed within the last five years. Each factor was assigned a score, with diabetes receiving the highest weight. A MARS+ score of 5 or higher predicts a fourfold increased lifetime risk of stroke.

Dr. Melikow emphasized that the calculator is a scientific advancement that can save lives by improving stroke risk understanding and prevention in migraine patients. The study was published in the journal Cephalalgia and was selected as "Editor's Choice" for its contribution to headache disorder knowledge and treatment progress.