Headache in Workers: A Matched Case–Control Study

Abstract

A case–control study including 446 workers reporting headaches (cases; 136 males and 310 females, mean age 46.71 ± 10.84 years) and 446 age- and sex-matched colleagues without headaches (controls; mean age 45.44 ± 10.13) was conducted in the second half of 2020 in a sample drawn from socio health and commercial services companies to investigate the association of headache with lifestyle, metabolic, and work-related factors. Workers suffering from headache reported higher body weight (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.46–2.53, p < 0.001), higher blood cholesterol (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.46–2.77, p < 0.001), triglyceride (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.20–3.35, p < 0.01), blood glucose (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.16–3.24, p < 0.01), and blood pressure levels (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23–2.52, p < 0.01). In the year preceding the survey, cases had experienced a higher frequency of workplace violence (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.25–4.20, p < 0.01 for physical aggression, OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.45–3.41, p < 0.001 for threat, OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.72–4.38, p < 0.001 for harassment) and were more frequently distressed (effort/reward ratio > 1) (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.39–2.40, p < 0.001) than the controls. Compared to the controls, cases also had higher scores on anxiety and depression scales, lower scores on happiness, and lower levels of sleep quality (p < 0.001). The association of headaches with metabolic and mental health problems suggests that monitoring headaches in the workplace could help to identify workers at risk of impairment.

Headache Characteristics and Risk Factors Among Healthcare Providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

“…Our study did not find a statistically significant association between occupation and headache types. This result aligns with previous studies conducted by Di Prinzio et al, which similarly reported no significant associations between occupation and the prevalence of headache types [ 29 ]. However, it is noteworthy that a higher proportion of individuals diagnosed with tension headaches were pharmacists, although this association did not reach statistical significance.…”

Workplace Health Promotion Embedded in Medical Surveillance: The Italian Way to Total Worker Health Program

“…The results of each survey were reported to the companies, the corporate prevention service, and the workers’ safety representatives in order to contribute to the growth of the work culture. Besides offering workers advice and providing companies with useful indications, WHPEMS activities have enabled researchers to produce some scientific publications [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Furthermore, by annually reiterating surveys on the same cohorts of workers, it has been possible to carry out longitudinal studies to clarify the causal link between exposure to risk and damage to health [ 64 , 65 ].…”

Identifying Risk Indicators of Cardiovascular Disease in Fasa Cohort Study (FACS): An Application of Generalized Linear Mixed-Model Tree

“…These findings are in line with previous research. [42][43][44][45] For instance, Silverman et al stated that there is a causal link between depression and adverse cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death. 42 Additionally, a study in China suggests a potential interaction between reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormones and UA metabolism, leading to an elevated risk of CVD.…”