Skip to main content

Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cole, TB; Bowling, JM; Patetta, MJ; Blazer, DG
Published in: Aging Ment Health
September 2014

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the increased risk of suicide for individuals with cancer may be explained by functional limitations, lack of social support, or other factors. METHOD: In this population-based case-control study, interviews of primary informants for suicides in the state of North Carolina were compared to interviews with participants in the Piedmont Health Study of the Elderly to estimate adjusted odds ratios for suicide and self-reported, physician diagnosed cancer, heart attack, stroke, and hip fracture. RESULTS: Adjusting for all other factors, there was a statistically significant association of suicide and cancer (odds ratio [OR] 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] CI 1.84-3.73), but not heart attack, hip fracture, or stroke. The risk of suicide was also elevated for men vs. women (OR 17.15, CI 10.88-27.02), whites vs. blacks (OR 9.70, CI 6.07-15.50), and individuals with stressful life events (OR 2.75, CI 1.97-3.86) or limitations of instrumental (OR 2.93, CI 2.03-4.22) but not physical activities of daily living. Suicide cases were not more likely to be short of breath or poor sleep quality. Suicide was statistically significantly less likely for study participants who were married with spouse living vs. other (OR 0.61, CI 0.43-0.88) or who had one or more indicators of social support (OR 0.27, CI 0.19-0.39). CONCLUSION: After adjustment for other risk factors, suicide was strongly associated with cancer but not with other disabling, potentially fatal conditions.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Aging Ment Health

DOI

EISSN

1364-6915

Publication Date

September 2014

Volume

18

Issue

7

Start / End Page

854 / 860

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicide
  • Social Support
  • Risk Factors
  • North Carolina
  • Neoplasms
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Cole, T. B., Bowling, J. M., Patetta, M. J., & Blazer, D. G. (2014). Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer. Aging Ment Health, 18(7), 854–860. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.892567
Cole, Thomas B., J Michael Bowling, Michael J. Patetta, and Dan G. Blazer. “Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer.Aging Ment Health 18, no. 7 (September 2014): 854–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2014.892567.
Cole TB, Bowling JM, Patetta MJ, Blazer DG. Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer. Aging Ment Health. 2014 Sep;18(7):854–60.
Cole, Thomas B., et al. “Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer.Aging Ment Health, vol. 18, no. 7, Sept. 2014, pp. 854–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/13607863.2014.892567.
Cole TB, Bowling JM, Patetta MJ, Blazer DG. Risk factors for suicide among older adults with cancer. Aging Ment Health. 2014 Sep;18(7):854–860.

Published In

Aging Ment Health

DOI

EISSN

1364-6915

Publication Date

September 2014

Volume

18

Issue

7

Start / End Page

854 / 860

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicide
  • Social Support
  • Risk Factors
  • North Carolina
  • Neoplasms
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Status
  • Geriatrics
  • Female