Objectives: California Death records were analyzed to examine trends in suicides among the elderly. Suicide is the leading cause of injury death among those aged 55+, exceeding motor vehicles and falls.
Methods: Data on suicides for those aged 55+ were abstracted for 1990-1998. Data were analyzed to determine who was at greatest risk. Factors analyzed included age, gender, race, and method of suicide.
Results: There were 32,578 deaths due to suicide, 32% or 10,253 were victims aged 55+. Sixty-one percent of these deaths could be attributed to firearms, 14% to hanging, suffocation or strangulation and, 13% to intentional drug overdoses.
Males (76%) were much more likely to complete suicide than females. Seventy-two percent of males used a firearm compared to 29% of the females. Conversely, females were more likely to use drugs.
The risk of suicide increased with age. Males over the age of 84 were at greatest risk (80.34 /100,000 population).
Conclusions: The elderly population is projected to double by 2050 to 80 million when 1 in 5 Americans will be elderly. We must be able to identify and prevent suicide in this age group. Risk factors for suicide among the elderly are different than among the young. The elderly are more likely to use firearms, they are more socially isolated, and have a higher prevalence of depression. They make fewer attempts per completions, are more often male, are more likely to have a prior health care visit before their suicide, and are more likely to be ill.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand patterns of suicide among those over the age of 54. 2. Be aware of recent trends in suicide among the elderly. 3. Understand the methodology used to study the impact of elderly suicide. 4. Examine risk factors of elderly suicide.
Keywords: Elderly, Suicide
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.