The long-term effect of work schedule, shift work disorder, insomnia and restless legs syndrome on headache among nurses: A prospective longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

Background: The preset study aimed to explore whether work schedules and sleep disorders predict the onset of headache. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted with questionnaire data from 2014 (baseline) and 2017 (follow-up) on work schedule, number of night shifts, number of quick returns, insomnia, shift work disorder (SWD), restless legs syndrome (RLS) and validated headache diagnoses among 1560 Norwegian nurses. Associations were explored by multivariate regression analyses. Results: Work related factors at baseline did not predict onset of headache three years later. In the adjusted logistic regressions, insomnia at baseline predicted increased risk of new onset of migraine (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–2.33), chronic headache (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.04–4.66) and medication-overuse headache (OR = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.26–11.42) at follow-up. SWD at baseline predicted new onset of migraine (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.07–2.50) and RLS at baseline predicted new onset of headache ≥1 day per month (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.01–2.36) and migraine (OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.03–2.32) at follow-up. No factors predicted tension-type headache. Conclusions: Overall, work related factors did not predict the onset of headache three years later, whereas insomnia, SWD and RLS at baseline all increased the risk of future headaches.