Objective:

We aim to investigate the association between pollution level of particulate matter (PM2.5) and migraine risk using the All of Us precision medicine cohort. 

Background:

The aim of the All of Us database program is to advance precision medicine and improve human health with a goal of enrolling 1 million individuals across the United States, especially from populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research. The database will likely identify opportunities for intervention and decrease the burden and disability of headache. In this era of precision medicine, investigating the role of the environment in headaches is critical, as poor air quality has been linked to other neurological disorders.

Design/Methods:

Using the All of Us workbench, data from participants ages 18-65 were obtained and cases of migraine diagnosis were identified. Pollution data on PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) exposure levels were obtained from the NASA Earth Observing System Data and Information Center and matched using the 3-digit zip prefixes. Covariates of gender, age, race/ethnicity, mental health, rural status, smoking status, education level, BMI and deprivation index were included. Multivariate logistic regression was completed. 

Results:

Out of 319,891 of all participants ages 18-65, 28,275 participants with a diagnosis of migraine were identified. The primary outcome PM2.5 level was at 7.7 μg/m³ (standard deviation SD 10.0) in all participants and 7.4 μg/m³ (SD 11.9) in participants with migraine. NO2 level was at 19.2 parts per million (ppm) (SD 8.6) in all participants and 18.2 ppm (SD 9.0) in participants with migraine, and O3 was at 37.5 ppm (SD 10.0) in all participants and 36.6 ppm (SD 11.9) in participants with migraine. 

Conclusions:

No significant association was found between pollution levels of PM2.5, NO2 or O3 and migraine risk. It will be important to investigate further including using migraine subtypes, interquartile pollution ranges and more granular zip codes.