Suicide Mortality Risk among Patients with Lung Cancer—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Luisa Hofmann, Michael Heinrich, Hansjörg Baurecht, Berthold Langguth, Peter M. Kreuzer, Helge Knüttel, Michael F. Leitzmann and Corinna Seliger ()
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Luisa Hofmann: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Nußbaumstraße 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
Michael Heinrich: Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Hansjörg Baurecht: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Berthold Langguth: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Peter M. Kreuzer: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Helge Knüttel: University Library, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Michael F. Leitzmann: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Corinna Seliger: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: The risk for suicide in patients with cancer is higher compared to the general population. However, little is known about patients with lung cancer specifically. We therefore implemented a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of retrospective cohort studies on suicide in patients with lung cancer. We searched a high number of common databases up to 02/2021. For the systematic review, a total of 23 studies was included. To exclude bias due to patient sample overlap, the meta-analysis was performed on 12 studies. The pooled standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for suicide was 2.95 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.42–3.60) for patients with lung cancer as compared to the general population. Subgroups with a pronouncedly higher risk for suicide compared to the general population were found for patients living in the USA (SMR = 4.17, 95% CI = 3.88–4.48), with tumors of late stage (SMR = 4.68, 95% CI = 1.28–17.14), and within one year after diagnosis (SMR = 5.00, 95% CI = 4.11–6.08). An increased risk for suicide was found in patients with lung cancer, with subgroups at particular risk. Patients at increased risk should be monitored more closely for suicidality and should receive specialized psycho-oncological and psychiatric care. Further studies should clarify the role of smoking and depressive symptoms on suicidality among lung cancer patients.

Keywords: suicide; cancer; lung cancer; meta-analysis; systematic review; SMR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4146-:d:1080450

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