Higher migraine risk in healthcare professionals than in general population: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: High stress levels and shift work probably trigger migraine in healthcare professionals (HCPs). However, the migraine risk differences between HCPs and the general population is unknown. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Physicians (50,226), nurses (122,357), and other HCPs (pharmacists, technicians, dietitians, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, etc.) (45,736) were enrolled for the study cohort, and randomly selected non-HCPs (218,319) were enrolled for the comparison cohort. Conditional logistical regression analysis was used to compare the migraine risks. Comparisons between HCPs and between physician specialties were also done. RESULTS: Physicians, nurses, and other HCPs had higher migraine risks than did the general population (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.672; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.468–1.905, AOR: 1.621; 95 % CI: 1.532–1.714, and AOR: 1.254; 95 % CI: 1.124–1.399, respectively) after stroke, hypertension, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, and insomnia had been adjusted for. Nurses and physicians had higher migraine risks than did other HCPs (AOR: 1.303; 95 % CI: 1.206–1.408, and AOR: 1.193; 95 % CI: 1.069–1.332, respectively). Obstetricians and gynecologists had a lower migraine risk than did other physician specialists (AOR: 0.550; 95 % CI: 0.323–0.937). CONCLUSION: HCPs in Taiwan had a higher migraine risk than did the general population. Heavy workloads, emotional stress, and rotating night shift sleep disturbances appear to be the most important risk factors. These findings should provide an important reference for promoting occupational health in HCPs in Taiwan.