OBJECTIVES: We aimed to find out the relationship between the regional suicide rates and the percentages of medical aid in the elderly in Korea.
METHODS: Suicide rates of the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments from 2007 to 2009 were calculated using 'Cause of Death Statistics' and 'Annual Report on Live Births and Deaths Statistics' from Korea National Statistical Office. The percentages of medical aid persons among the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments were calculated using 'National Health Insurance Statistical Yearbook' from Health Insurance Review Agency and National Health Insurance Corporation. The correlation between the suicide rates and the percentages of medical aid in the elderly was measured.
RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between the suicide rates and the percentage of medical aid in the elderly in 16 upper-level local governments. But significant negative correlation was found when only the old-elderly or the old women were analyzed. And the significant negative correlation was also found when only 8 local governments except the major cities and the national capital area were included for analysis.
CONCLUSION: Medical aid system could be helpful to reduce the suicide rate in the old-elderly or the old women in Korea. And this effect might be intensified in non-metropolitan and non-capital area.