Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

Burden of Headache Disorders among Health Workers: YLD Estimations and Comorbidity Adjusted Modeling Using GBD Methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Maedeh Moradi Farahani 1
Seyed Jalil Masoumi 2, 3, 4
Mohebat Vali 5
Jafar Hassanzadeh 6
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh 5

1 Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran

3 Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Employee Cohort Study, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

5 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

6 Department of Epidemiology, Research Centre for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

10.30476/jhsss.2025.107557.2078
Abstract
Background: Headache disorders significantly affect over half of the global population, notably healthcare workers through YLD and productivity loss. This study aimed to identify demographic 
and job-related disability disparities among health workers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline cohort data from 5,924 health workers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (2018). YLD calculations used GBD disability weights and comorbidity adjustments via multiplicative models. Nonparametric tests, including Kruskal–Wallis H and post hoc Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction, were used for group comparisons.
Results: Our findings revealed a substantially higher prevalence based YLD for headache disorders (mean: 9,460±26,300 per 100,000) compared to the global age-standardized estimate of 588.4 per 100,000 reported by the GBD study.  Women (0.135±0.31) had a higher mean YLD than men (0.042±0.18) though it was not statistically significant (p=0.84). Younger workers (0.102±0.30, p<0.001), university-educated (0.102±0.27), upper-middle-class (0.1195±0.293), and clinical/medical staff (0.113±0.29, p=0.002) showed the highest YLD. Depression (58.6%) was the most frequent comorbidity; adjusted models confirmed comorbidity impact.
Conclusion: Headache disorders create significant disparities among health workers by age, education, socioeconomic status, and job type. Depression is a prevalent comorbidity. Adjusted 
YLD models improved burden estimation, underscoring the need for targeted occupational health interventions.

Highlights

Maedeh Moradi Farahani (Google Scholar)

Alireza Mirahmadizadeh (Google Scholar)

Keywords

Headache Disorders
Years Lived with Disability
Comorbidity
Prevalence
Incidence
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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 14, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 237-245

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