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Frequent headache and work ability: a population-based study in Sweden.
Tove Hedenrud1, Jesper Löve, Carin Staland-Nyman
1From the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine (Assoc Prof Hedenrud, Dr Löve, Dr Staland-Nyman, and Prof Hensing), Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg; and School of Social and Health Sciences (Dr Staland-Nyman), Halmstad University, Sweden.
Frequent headaches significantly impair both mental and physical work ability in the general population. This study highlights a strong link between regular headaches and reduced work capacity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Frequent headaches are a common complaint with potential impacts on daily functioning.
- Understanding the relationship between headache frequency and work ability is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between frequent headache and self-reported mental and physical work ability.
- To analyze this relationship within a general population sample in Sweden.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study conducted in western Sweden in 2008.
- Frequent headache (at least once a week) was assessed.
- Mental and physical work ability, covariates (demographics, socioeconomic, work-related variables, symptom index), and sickness absence data were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 16% of participants reported frequent headaches (n=2590).
- Frequent headache sufferers were twice as likely to report poor mental work ability.
- Frequent headache sufferers were also twice as likely to report poor physical work ability.
Conclusions:
- Frequent headache is significantly associated with diminished mental and physical work ability.
- No significant association was found between frequent headache and sickness absence in this population.
