Suicide among cancer patients

Nicholas G. Zaorsky (), Ying Zhang, Leonard Tuanquin, Shirley M. Bluethmann, Henry S. Park and Vernon M. Chinchilli
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Nicholas G. Zaorsky: Penn State Cancer Institute
Ying Zhang: Penn State College of Medicine
Leonard Tuanquin: Penn State Cancer Institute
Shirley M. Bluethmann: Penn State College of Medicine
Henry S. Park: Yale School of Medicine, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale
Vernon M. Chinchilli: Penn State College of Medicine

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Our purpose is to identify cancer patients at highest risk of suicide compared to the general population and other cancer patients. This is a retrospective, population-based study using nationally representative data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, 1973-2014. Among 8,651,569 cancer patients, 13,311 committed suicide; the rate of suicide was 28.58/ 100,000-person years, and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of suicide was 4.44 (95% CI, 4.33, 4.55). The predominant patients who committed suicide were male (83%) and white (92%). Cancers of the lung, head and neck, testes, bladder, and Hodgkin lymphoma had the highest SMRs ( > 5-10) through the follow up period. Elderly, white, unmarried males with localized disease are at highest risk vs other cancer patients. Among those diagnosed at 50, from prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer patients.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08170-1

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