However, data regarding the prevalence of headache following stroke vary widely, and there is significant heterogeneity across the studies.
They then did a random-effects meta-analysis of studies and a systematic review and gathered data to determine headache prevalence following ischemic stroke.
This data point consisted of migraine without aura (20.1%; 95% CI 3.9–61.0) and migraine with aura (12.5%; 95% CI, 3.5–36.1).
The results showed that headache prevalence was 6.0% (95% CI, 4.0–8.8) in posterior circulation stroke and 7.9% (95% CI, 4.8–12.7) in anterior circulation stroke.
“Approximately one in five patients experience headache following ischemic stroke, with migraine accounting for a substantial proportion of cases.
Headache is often reported among patients with ischemic stroke. However, data regarding the prevalence of headache following stroke vary widely, and there is significant heterogeneity across the studies. This highlights the need to clearly define the epidemiology and clinical meaningfulness of headache after ischemic stroke.
In this meta-analysis and systematic review, Arkansh Sharma, a MBBS student at Government Medical College in Chennai, India, and colleagues set out to assess observational studies focused on trends in headache prevalence following ischemic stroke. The abstract was published during the 2026 American Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting.
The analysis included 50 studies. There were 53,191 participants, and 8,766 headache events were presented across the studies.
The researchers searched Scopus, Emboss, Web of Science, and PubMed for relevant studies. They then did a random-effects meta-analysis of studies and a systematic review and gathered data to determine headache prevalence following ischemic stroke.
The findings showed a 21.1% pooled prevalence of headache after ischemic stroke. There was considerable heterogeneity (I2 98.7%; τ2 0.64).
When evaluating studies that highlight headache subtypes, the most frequent phenotype was migraine (25.9%; 95% CI, 11.7–48.0). This data point consisted of migraine without aura (20.1%; 95% CI 3.9–61.0) and migraine with aura (12.5%; 95% CI, 3.5–36.1).
Tension-type headaches accounted for 8.9% (95% CI, 3.6–20.2) of the cases presented.
The results showed that headache prevalence was 6.0% (95% CI, 4.0–8.8) in posterior circulation stroke and 7.9% (95% CI, 4.8–12.7) in anterior circulation stroke.
“Approximately one in five patients experience headache following ischemic stroke, with migraine accounting for a substantial proportion of cases. The marked heterogeneity across studies underscores the need for standardized diagnostic criteria and harmonized assessment methods in future research to better define the epidemiology and clinical relevance of post-ischemic stroke headache,” the study team concluded.
