The effect of income level on all-cause mortality and suicide among patients using antidepressants: A population-based cohort study. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, Young
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 299(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Socioeconomic status -- Mortality -- Suicide -- Antidepressants; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113838
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Higher household income levels are associated with increased all-cause mortality in patients using antidepressant agents. Male patients in the low and mid-low income groups had a higher risk of suicide There was no significant difference in suicide risk between income groups among female patients. Abstract: Background: To investigate whether household income levels are associated with all-cause mortality and suicide in patients using antidepressant agents. Methods: We analyzed data from 75, 782 patients using antidepressants, acquired from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database (2002–2013). Each patient was monitored until December 2013 or until death, whichever occurred sooner. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare all-cause and suicide mortalities between different income groups after adjusting for possible confounding covariates and risk factors. Results: The mid-low income group had a significantly higher suicide rate than the high-income group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.379; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.102–1.762). Male patients in the low and mid-low income groups had a higher risk of suicide (HR 1.449; 95% CI, 1.006–2.087 and HR 1.410; 95% CI, 1.036–1.918, respectively), whereas there was no significant difference in suicide risk between income groups among female patients. Conclusion: Promotion of targeted policies and priority health services for low-income patients on antidepressants may help reduce the risk of suicide in this high-risk group.