Headache and Health-Related Job Loss Among Disadvantaged Women

Headache is a significant public health issue and a major cause of work-related disability. Given that lower-income groups suffer more frequent and more severe headaches, this study examined the associations between headaches, comorbid conditions, symptom management, and health-related job loss in 432 low-income women. The presence of headaches, headaches and allergy symptoms combined, and a higher number of comorbid conditions were significantly associated with health-related job loss. Medication use and emergency department use patterns suggest further research related to day-to-day headache symptom management strategies, and role functioning among this vulnerable group is needed.