Citation

Giltay EJ, Zitman FG, Menotti A, Nissinen A, Jacobs DR, Adachi H, Kafatos A, Kromhout D. J. Affect. Disord. 2010; 120(1-3): 249-253.

Affiliation

Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2009.03.022

PMID

19410295

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prospective cohort studies on biological risk factors of completed suicide are scarce. We aimed to test which biological risk factors independently identify subjects at increased risk of suicidal death. METHODS: In the prospective cohort of the Seven Countries Study, 5,321 middle-aged men from Finland, Serbia, Italy, and Greece were included. Completed suicide (ICD-8 codes E950-959) was assessed during 40 years of follow-up. Biological cardiovascular risk factors (including forced vital capacity [FVC] and height) were tested for their role as predictors in multivariable Cox models stratified by country. RESULTS: There were 4518 deaths during follow-up, with 64 from suicide (1.4%). In univariable models, only FVC and height were strongly inversely related with suicide. Socio-economic status and being unmarried were potential confounders. In multivariable models taking these confounders into account, both a low FVC (0.30 for top vs. lowest quartile; 95% CI: 0.12-0.76; P=0.006 for trend) and a low FVC/height ratio (0.37 for top vs. lowest quartile; 95% CI: 0.17-0.82; P=0.004 for trend) were strongly inversely related with completed suicide. LIMITATIONS: Information on proximal causes, such as prior suicidal ideation, emotional distress and depression, was lacking at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Poor respiratory function in middle-aged men was an independent risk factor for completed suicide.

Language: en