International research

  • Title:

    Is there a relationship between elderly suicide rates and smoking? A cross national study

  • Abstract/Synopsis:

    Background: An independent relationship between smoking cigarettes and completed suicides has been reported in several cohort and case-control studies of younger subjects, but this relationship has rarely been examined in the elderly. Methods: The relationship between the prevalence of smoking in males and females and suicide rates in males and females in the age-bands 65-74 years and 75+ years was examined using national-level aggregate data from the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme websites. In addition to univariate analysis, multivariate analysis were conducted to ascertain an independent relationship between the prevalence of smoking and elderly suicide rates. Results: The main findings were: (i) on univariate analysis, the prevalence of smoking in males was positively correlated with suicide rates in males aged 65-74 years and males aged 75+ years, but this relationship was absent in females and (ii) on multivariate analysis there was no independent relationship between the prevalence of smoking in males and suicide rates in males in both the elderly age-bands. Conclusions: There is a case for examination of the relationship between smoking and elderly suicides in individual-level cohort or case-control studies because of the potential methodological difficulties in cross-national studies using national-level aggregate data, paucity of cohort or case-control studies at an individual-level in the elderly, and the observation of an independent relationship between smoking and completed suicides in individual-level cohort and case-control studies in younger age groups.

  • Author:

    Shah A

  • Publisher:

    International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

  • Year Published:

    2008

  • Format:

    Journal Article

  • Size:

    6 pages

  • Price:

    Payment required

  • Online at:

  • Categories:

    • Aged
    • Australian research and statistics
    • Culturally and linguistically diverse
    • International research and statistics
    • Men
    • Risk and protective factors
    • Suicidal behaviour
    • Women

  • Keywords:

    elderly, multinational, men, risk factors, suicidal behaviour, tobacco smoking, women

  • Review:

I need help NOW! Send Feedback
LIFE Helping someone at risk of suicide
LIFE's Helping someone at risk of suicide brochure provides useful information about what a person can do if somebody close them is considering taking their own life.