| Title: | Ambient nitrogen dioxide, temperature exposure, and migraine incidence: A large prospective cohort study |
| Journal: | Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain |
| Published: | 26 Aug 2025 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40859714/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1111/head.15037 |
Publication 19657
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the associations of low-level ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and seasonal temperatures with migraine incidence.</p>
BACKGROUND: Migraine is a highly disabling neurovascular disorder in which attacks are affected by short-term high-level air pollution; however, the associations of long-term low-level air pollution and climate change on migraine incidence are unknown.</p>
METHODS: In this prospective cohort study using data from the UK Biobank, 407,792 participants without migraine at baseline were included. Environmental exposures were assessed monthly and yearly using zip code-linked gridded data. We compared migraine incidence across populations with varying exposure levels of NO2, seasonal temperatures, and temperature variability to assess their associations with migraine risk.</p>
RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.8 years (2316 migraine cases), migraine risk increased with higher NO2 exposure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.10 per 10 μg/m3 increase; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.01-1.19), lower winter temperatures (aHR, 1.46 per 5°C decrease; 95% CI, 1.26-1.69), and higher temperature variability in both summer (aHR, 1.19 per 1°C increase; 95% CI, 1.07-1.32) and winter (aHR, 1.07 per 1°C increase; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13). Joint effects were observed between NO2 and temperature patterns, with the highest risks associated with combinations of high NO2-low winter temperature (aHR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.42-1.95), high NO2-high summer temperature variability (aHR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.25-1.76), and high NO2-low winter temperature variability (aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.39-1.93).</p>
CONCLUSIONS: The findings that NO2 and temperature are associated with migraine incidence suggest that to mitigate further the environmental risk factors associated with migraine incidence, we may need to adopt a combination of public health measures of air quality management and climate change adaptation.</p>
17 Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Air Pollutants
- Air Pollution
- Cohort Studies
- Environmental Exposure
- Female
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Migraine Disorders
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Prospective Studies
- Seasons
- Temperature
- United Kingdom
6 Authors
- Shuzi Ye
- Yinyan Gao
- Yijuan Lin
- Jiali Wang
- Irene Xinyin Wu
- Fang Xiao
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 64555 | Interaction effect of physical activity and environmental factors on health outcomes in general populations |
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