Suicide attempts presenting to trauma centers: trends across age groups using the National Trauma Data Bank

Authors

Eva M. Mathews, LSUHSC-OLOL Psychiatry Residency, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Electronic address: Eva.Mathews@ololrmc.com.
Christopher J. Woodward, Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Baton Rouge, LA; Children's Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Electronic address: cwoodark@gmail.com.
Mandi W. Musso, Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Baton Rouge, LA; Graduate Medical Education, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Electronic address: mmuss1@LSUHSC.edu.
Glenn N. Jones, LSUHSC-OLOL Psychiatry Residency, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Baton Rouge, LA; Family Medicine, School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA. Electronic address: GJones@LSUHSC.edu.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study sought to examine the epidemiology and mortality of violent suicide attempts presenting to trauma centers and to describe differences in male and female suicide attempters presenting to trauma centers by decade of age. METHOD: Data from the National Trauma Data Bank (American College of Surgeons) years 2010-2012 were used for this study. E-codes indicative of self-inflicted injury (e950-e959) were used to identify violent suicide attempts. Incidents were categorized by decade of age at admission. We examined the effects of age and sex on rates of violent suicide attempts, mechanism used, and mortality. RESULTS: In all, 36035 violent suicide attempts were identified in the National Trauma Data Bank. Proportion of in-hospital mortality differed significantly with age (P< .001). Individuals aged 20 to 29 years had a significantly higher number of attempts with 15.6% mortality, whereas individuals aged 80 plus year had fewer attempts but with 45.9% mortality. There were significant interactions between sex and age on lethality of suicide attempts (P< .01) and mechanism chosen (P< .01), with men being more likely to use firearms across age groups. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of examining the epidemiology of suicide attempts across sex and age. There are significant differences in rate of attempts, lethality of mechanism, and in-hospital mortality. Future studies should continue to investigate violent suicide attempts to design and implement effective treatment strategies targeted toward specific populations.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

The American journal of emergency medicine

First Page

1620

Last Page

4

Recommended Citation

Mathews, E. M., Woodward, C. J., Musso, M. W., & Jones, G. N. (2016). Suicide attempts presenting to trauma centers: trends across age groups using the National Trauma Data Bank. The American journal of emergency medicine, 34 (8), 1620-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2016.06.014