%0 Journal Article
%T Effect of altitude on veteran suicide rates
%J High altitude medicine and biology
%D 2019
%A Sabic, Hana
%A Kious, Brent
%A Boxer, Danielle
%A Fitzgerald, Colleen
%A Riley, Colin
%A Scholl, Lindsay
%A McGlade, Erin
%A Yurgelun-Todd, Deborah
%A Renshaw, Perry F.
%A Kondo, Douglas G.
%V 20
%N 2
%P 171-177
%X <i>Aims:</i>                     </b> Suicide rates in the general population in the United States are correlated with altitude. To explore factors contributing to suicide among military veterans, we examined the relationship between veteran state-level suicide rates and altitude for 2014, including firearm-related and nonfirearm-related rates. <b>                         <i>Methods:</i>                     </b> Pearson's coefficients were calculated for altitude and each outcome. Mixed linear models were used to determine the association between suicide and altitude while adjusting for demographic confounds. <b>                         <i>Results:</i>                     </b> State mean altitude was significantly correlated with total veteran suicide rate (<i>r</i> = 0.678, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), veteran firearm-related suicide rate (<i>r</i> = 0.578, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), and veteran nonfirearm suicide rate (<i>r</i> = 0.609, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). In mixed models, altitude was significantly correlated with total veteran suicide rate (β = 0.331, <i>p</i> < 0.05), veteran firearm suicides (β = 0.282, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and veteran nonfirearm suicides (β = 0.393, <i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>                         <i>Conclusion:</i>                     </b> This study adds to evidence linking altitude and suicide rates, arguing for additional research into the relationship between altitude and suicide among veterans.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Mary Ann Liebert Publishers
%@ 1527-0297
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ham.2018.0130