A revisit on older adults suicides and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong
A revisit on older adults suicides and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong
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DOI：
10.1002/gps.2056
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发表时间：
2008-12-01
影响因子：
4
通讯作者：
Yip, Paul S. F.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cheung, Y. T.;Chau, P. H.;Yip, Paul S. F.
背景2003年爆发的严重急性呼吸系统综合症(SARS)对香港社会产生了巨大影响，香港的自杀率也达到了历史最高水平，每10万人中有18.6人自杀。方法采用泊松回归模型分析SARS疫情对香港老年人自杀事件的影响。死因裁判法院提供了一套完整的1993-2004年期间自杀统计数字，供分析之用。用卡方检验比较SARS前、SARS围术期和SARS后的老年人自杀情况。结果2003年4月老年人自杀人数高于其他年份的4月份。一个低谷，而不是通常的夏季高峰。在6月份观察到了这一点，这表明一些老年人的自杀事件可能提前了。就一年而言，2003年和2004年老年人的自杀率明显高于2002年，表明自杀率没有恢复到SARS疫情之前的水平。根据验尸官的自杀死亡记录，SARS前、SARS周和SARS后的老年人自杀死亡的总体病情严重程度、依赖程度和担心生病的情况有显著差异。结论SARS流行与2003年4月老年人自杀率上升有关，2003年6月的部分自杀死亡可能提前。此外，观察到2003年老年人的年度自杀率有所上升，2004年的自杀率没有回到2002年的水平。社区老年人中的孤独感和与外界的隔绝可能与2003年老年人自杀人数过多有关。在疫情期间保持和加强公众的心理健康与遏制疫情的传播同样重要。还应注意并努力提高社区在疫情期间管理恐惧和焦虑的能力，特别是在弱势群体中，以防止悲惨和不必要的自杀死亡。版权所有(C)2008 John Wiley&Sons，Ltd.
Background The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 had an enormous impact on Hong Kong society and the suicide rate was also at its historical high, 18.6 per 100,000. The most significant increase was found among the older adults aged 65 or above.Methods Poisson Regression Models were used to examine impact of the SARS epidemic on older adults suicides ill Hong Kong. A complete set of the suicide statistics for the period 1993-2004 from the Coroners' Court were made available for the analysis. Chi-square test was used to compare the profile of the older adult suicide cases in the pre-SARS, peri-SARS and post-SARS periods.Results It showed an excess of older adults suicides in April 2003, when compared to the month of April of the other years. A trough, instead of the usual summer peak. was observed in June, suggesting some of the older adults suicides might have been brought forward. On a year basis, the annual older adult's suicide rates in 2003 and 2004 were significantly higher than that in 2002, suggesting the suicide rate did not return to the level before the SARS epidemic. Based on the Coroners' suicide death records, overall severity of illness, level of dependency and worrying of having sickness among the older adult suicides were found to be significantly different in the pre-SARS, peri-SARS and post-SARS periods.Conclusion The SARS epidemic was associated with an increase in older adults' suicide rate in April 2003 and some suicide deaths in June 2003 might have been brought forward. Moreover, an increase in the annual older adults' suicide rate in 2003 was observed and the rate in 2004 did not return to the level of 2002. Loneliness and disconnectedness among the older adults in the community were likely to be associated with the excess older adults' suicides in 2003. Maintaining and enhancing mental well being of the public over the period of epidemic is as important as curbing the spread of the epidemic. Attention and effort should also be made to enhance the community's ability to manage fear and anxiety, especially in vulnerable groups over the period of epidemic to prevent tragic and unnecessary suicide deaths. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.