Demand-specific work ability among employees with migraine or frequent headache

Abstract

Headache disorders have serious implications for employees’ work ability (WA). However, there is inadequate knowledge of what specific work-related activities that are affected by headache. We investigated demand-specific WA among individuals with migraine or frequent headache. We used cross-sectional questionnaire-data (n = 5,551) containing information about “migraine or frequent headache” and difficulties handling seven different job demands. In subgroup analyses (n = 4,028), we added information on medication. In ordinal logistic regression, we adjusted for sex, age, education, depressive symptoms and musculoskeletal pain. Individuals with previous or current migraine/headache had poorer WA, particularly with respect to the ability of handling physical and cognitive job demands. No use of medication as well as overuse of medication—both signalling suboptimal treatment—might aggravate the difficulties complying with job demands. Additionally, depressive symptoms and musculoskeletal pain seem to play a major role for the level of disability. Employees with headache disorders need adequate diagnosis and treatment. Rehabilitation should also address mental health as well as concurrent (musculoskeletal) pain conditions, which potentially benefit from non-medical interventions. Adjustment of the working conditions (physical and cognitive job demands) is likely to improve the work ability in this group of employees.