Skip to main content
. 2023 Oct 3;10(2):72–81. doi: 10.36469/001c.87790

Table 1. Measures of the Relative Effect of Migraine on Occupational Outcomes.

Outcome Migraine Severity Mean SE Source
Current employment (full-⁠ or part-⁠time) Low EM (0-2 MHDs) [Reference] Stewart et al (2010)
Moderate EM (3-9 MHDs) [RR] 0.940 0.027
High EM (10-14 MHDs) [RR] 0.86 0.062
CM (>14 MHDs) [RR] 0.810 0.039
EM (10-14 MHDs) [RR] 0.993 Calculateda
Full-time/part-time ratio EM (≤ 14 MHDs) 52.3% 0.5% Buse et al (2010)
CM (>14 MHDs) 37.8% 1.9%
CM vs EM [RR] 0.723 -- Calculatedb
Absenteeism (% work time missed) Controls (no migraine) 1.9% 10%c See noted
EM (4-7 MHDs) 8.0% Vo (2018)43
EM (8-14 MHDs) 22.2%
CM (>14 MHDs) 19.7%
EM (≤ 14 MHDs) 12.6% Calculatede
Disability EM (≤ 14 MHDs) 11.1% 0.3% Buse et al (2010)
CM (>14 MHDs) 20.0% 1.6%
CM vs EM [RR] 1.802 -- Calculatedf
Early retirement HFEM (≥8 MHDs but <15 MHDs) 20.8% 3.2% Chalmer (2020)44
CM (≥8 MHDs but ≥15 MHDs) 33.5% 3.8%
CM vs EM [RR] 1.611 -- Calculatedg

aIt was assumed that having fewer than 10 MHDs would not affect one’s probability of staying in employment. Employment reductions was therefore applied only in people affected by EM having at least 10 MHDs and in those with CM. The proportion of EM with at least 10 MHDs (296/6267; 4.7%) was informed by Steward et al.45

bRatio between proportion of people with CM in full-time employment and EM in full-time employment (0.378/0.523).

cAssumed to be 10% of the mean.

Abbreviations: CM, chronic migraine; EM, episodic migraine; HFEM, high-frequency episodic migraine; MHDs, monthly headache days; RR, relative risk, SE, standard error.