8291551 Shift work and headache risk: a prospective cohort study in Dutch nurses

<h3>Objective</h3> Shift work may impact headaches, significantly affecting quality of life and productivity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between shift work and headache occurrence among Dutch female nurses. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Participants completed questionnaires in 2011 (N = 59,768) and in 2017 (N = 37,730) reporting on headaches, work history, sleep problems, lifestyle factors, among other factors. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between shift work and headache/migraine, as well as the impact of changes in shift work status on headache outcomes. <h3>Results</h3> Shift work was associated with an increase in headache risk at both baseline (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.12) and follow-up (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.99–1.15). A similar trend was observed for migraine risk (baseline OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.99–1.13; follow-up OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06–1.33). Stratification by shift work duration showed elevated headache risk for those with less than 20 years of shift work, but a reduced risk after 20 years (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78 – 0.95). Additionally, quitting shift work increased the odds of headache recovery (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.38). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The findings show a positive relationship between shift work and headache/migraine risk.