Migraine/Headache at Work: An Introduction

Donna Ryan, Information OfficerMigraine Association of Ireland

Migraine and other Headache Disorders

• 90% will suffer from headache

• Migraine – most common disabling headache disorder • 12-15% of population

• Average attack rate – 2 per month

• 10% patients get weekly attack

• 4% have Chronic Migraine = Migraine on 15+ days per month

• Ranked by the World Health Organisation as the 12th leading cause of disability worldwide amongst women and 19th overall

Migraine is not just a headache!

Prevalence of Migraine

CONSEQUENCES OF MIGRAINE

On The Individual

On The Family

On Work Functioning

Workforce Disability

200,000 workforce migraineurs

37% miss more than 5 days per yearfrom work

92% say attacks affect jobperformance

Unemployment greater

Costs the economy €252 million peryear

Key Issues

* EXCLUSION/ISOLATION

* STIGMA/LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

* VULNERABILITY

* FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

Quality of Life Survey 2003Migraine reduces my job satisfaction

Quality of Life Survey 2003My employer is sympathetic towards the impact migraine has on me

Days missed from work by Irish migraineurs per annum

0-5 days 63%

6-10 days 21%

11-15 days

9%

21+ days

5%

16-20 days 2%

Everybody benefits if migraine is properly managed:

Benefits to employees • Increased job satisfaction• Better health and well-being• Better social and family life

Benefits to employers • Increased productivity• Less absenteeism• Positive workplace environment

Increased understanding about migraine + Improved migraine management = More content and productive workforce.