Painful temporomandibular disorder, sleep bruxism, anxiety symptoms and subjective sleep quality among military firefighters with frequent episodic tension-type headache. A controlled study.

Desordens temporomandibulares dolorosas, bruxismo do sono, sintomas de ansiedade e qualidade subjetiva do sono em bombeiros militares com cefaleia do tipo tensional episódica frequente. Estudo controlado.

ABSTRACT

Objective

To investigate associations of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), bruxism, anxiety and sleep quality among military firefighters with frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH).

Methods

The sample comprised two groups (80 individuals): controls (mean age 35.2 years) and study group (mean age 38.5 years). Headache was diagnosed in accordance with the ICHD-III. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs were used to classify the TMDs; bruxism was diagnosed in accordance with the International Classification of Sleep Disorders; anxiety was classified using the Beck Anxiety Inventory; and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In the statistical models, we used a significance level of 95%.

Results

Associations were found between participants with FETTH and TMDs (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.002).Poor quality of sleep (p = 0.687) and bruxism (p = 0.670) were not risk factors.

Conclusion

The study found that TMDs and anxiety among firefighters were associated with FETTH.

tension-type headache; temporomandibular joint disorders; bruxism; surveys and questionnaires