[Prevalence and indirect costs of headache in a Brazilian Company].
Employees from a Brazilian oil company research centre (n = 993) were interviewed on the occurrence of headache during a 30 days period. Headache prevalence was 49.8%, with a mean frequency of 4.3 +/- 7.0 attacks per month, lasting 12.2 +/- 21.4 hours each. According to the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria, migraine (5.5%), episodic tension-type headache (26.4%), chronic tension-type headache (1.7%) and headaches not fulfilling the criteria for such disorders (16.2%) were observed. Women suffered comparatively more headache and specifically migraine than men. The pain interfered with work productivity in 10% of the subjects, corresponding to 538.75 hours off. According to an indirect costs estimation for each headache, the company may loose up to US$125.98 per employee annually. Since among headaches migraine has the highest indirect cost, migraine prevention and treatment is particularly important at the working environment. Migraine frequency may be prevented to a large extent, resulting on positive effects in both the quality of life and productivity. The cost-benefit ratio clearly favours therapeutic and preventive programs against chronic headaches.
Vincent
M
M
Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Brazil. vincent@unisys.com.br
Rodrigues
A de J
Ade J
De Oliveira
G V
GV
De Souza
K F
KF
Doi
L M
LM
Rocha
M B
MB
Saporta
M A
MA
Orleans
R B
RB
Kotecki
R
R
Estrela
V V
VV
De Medeiros
V A
VA
Borges
W I
WI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014937:Work / Q000191:economics