Scrutinizing the Profile and Risk Factors of Suicide: A Perspective from a Case–Control Study Focused on a Northern Region of Spain

María Sáenz-Aldea, María T. Zarrabeitia, Ana García Blanco and Ana Santurtún ()
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María Sáenz-Aldea: Family and Community Medicine, Davila Health Center, Health Service of Cantabria, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
María T. Zarrabeitia: Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Cantabria, IDIVAL, 39005 Santander, Spain
Ana García Blanco: Pathology Service, Institute of Legal Medicine of Cantabria, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
Ana Santurtún: Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Cantabria, IDIVAL, 39005 Santander, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: Suicide is a major public health problem the prevention of which has become a priority, and, to this end, knowledge of its risk factors is essential. This study aims to evaluate the impact of some social, medico-legal, and clinical issues on suicide deaths. A total of 135 cases were identified as suicides that occurred in a region of northern Spain between 2018 and 2020. Controls (three for each case) were matched by age, sex, and urban–rural areas. The information was collected retrospectively through electronic health record systems. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association between individual risk factors and suicide. Being male (78.5%), between 40 and 60 years of age, unmarried (70.9%), and unemployed (85%) were associated with suicide deaths. Although the existence of a previous self-harm attempt is presented as the most robust risk factor (OR 22.121 [8.997–54.389]), the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis (OR 12.583 [7.686–20.601]) and cancer (OR 3.729 [1.845–7.536]) also showed a significant relationship with suicide ( p < 0.05). Defining and knowing the risk factors for suicide helps to better understand the profiles of those individuals who are vulnerable, and enables prevention actions to be taken in both social and medical spheres.

Keywords: suicide; risks factors; socio-demographic variables; cancer; chronic pain; psychiatric disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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