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Lost workdays and decreased work effectiveness associated with headache in the workplace
B S Schwartz1, W F Stewart, R B Lipton
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md, USA.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Headaches cause significant work loss in the US. Migraine leads to more missed days, while tension-type headaches reduce work effectiveness, impacting productivity and workplace costs.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Headache's impact on workplace productivity in the US is not well-understood.
- Quantifying headache-related work loss is crucial for developing effective workplace interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the distribution and magnitude of headache's impact on lost work time and effectiveness.
- To identify predictors of workplace impact related to headache type and severity.
Main Methods:
- Telephone interviews with 13,343 respondents in Baltimore County, Maryland (1993-1994).
- Headache diagnoses based on International Headache Society criteria (migraine, episodic tension-type headache).
- Workplace impact assessed via self-reported missed workdays and reduced work effectiveness.
Main Results:
- 9.4% missed work, 31% experienced reduced work level, 9.2% had >50% reduction.
- Average annual loss equivalent to 4.2 days per person due to headache.
- Migraine accounted for 57% of lost workdays; tension-type headaches for 64% of reduced effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Headache significantly impacts workplace productivity, with different types having distinct effects.
- Headache type, severity, and education level predict workplace impact.
- Findings inform strategies for managing indirect workplace costs and developing prevention programs.