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"Younger" and "Older" Old Adults Who Die by Suicide : A Comparison Study and Cluster Analysis

Doering, Sabrina ; Liljedahl, Sophie I ; Lindström, Sara LU orcid ; Sinyor, Mark ; Hedna, Khedidja ; Bergqvist, Erik LU orcid ; Palmqvist Öberg, Nina LU ; Wiktorsson, Stefan ; Stefenson, Anne and Hartelius, Jana , et al. (2025) In American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare sociodemographic, clinical, and suicide-specific characteristics between younger old (aged 65-74) and older old (aged 75+) adults who died by suicide in 2015, and to identify clinically relevant subgroups in the entire study cohort 65+ through cluster analysis.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: All health care units across Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65+ with at least one physician contact in the year preceding suicide (N = 277; aged 65-74 n = 145, 75+ n = 132).

MEASUREMENTS: Variables retrieved from medical records and the Swedish Cause of Death Register.

RESULTS: There were no differences between age groups, except being widowed, which was documented to a... (More)

OBJECTIVES: To compare sociodemographic, clinical, and suicide-specific characteristics between younger old (aged 65-74) and older old (aged 75+) adults who died by suicide in 2015, and to identify clinically relevant subgroups in the entire study cohort 65+ through cluster analysis.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: All health care units across Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65+ with at least one physician contact in the year preceding suicide (N = 277; aged 65-74 n = 145, 75+ n = 132).

MEASUREMENTS: Variables retrieved from medical records and the Swedish Cause of Death Register.

RESULTS: There were no differences between age groups, except being widowed, which was documented to a higher proportion in those aged 75+ (10% vs 28%, p < 0.001). Nearly half of the total cohort had a prescription for antidepressants at the time of death, but increased suicide risk was noted in only 13%. Two groups emerged via cluster analysis. One large group (n = 197) was characterized by male sex and comparatively low proportions with notations related to mental ill-health. The other group (n = 80) was characterized by high rates of mental illness including suicidal ideation and prescribed psychoactive medication.

CONCLUSIONS: We identified no clinically meaningful age group differences. Cluster analysis revealed a large, predominantly male group in which one third were prescribed antidepressants. Otherwise, there was little documentation related to mental health, suggesting other suicidal precipitants, underdiagnosis, and/or underestimation of the severity of mental illness in that group. This points to a need for data sources that go beyond medical records to inform targeted prevention efforts.

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publishing date
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Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105007526866
  • pmid:40480901
ISSN
1545-7214
DOI
10.1016/j.jagp.2025.05.006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
id
f0d8b8c2-0310-46d4-8efd-ae93febf1af9
date added to LUP
2025-06-13 18:05:27
date last changed
2025-07-26 07:54:51
@article{f0d8b8c2-0310-46d4-8efd-ae93febf1af9,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: To compare sociodemographic, clinical, and suicide-specific characteristics between younger old (aged 65-74) and older old (aged 75+) adults who died by suicide in 2015, and to identify clinically relevant subgroups in the entire study cohort 65+ through cluster analysis.</p><p>DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.</p><p>SETTING: All health care units across Sweden.</p><p>PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65+ with at least one physician contact in the year preceding suicide (N = 277; aged 65-74 n = 145, 75+ n = 132).</p><p>MEASUREMENTS: Variables retrieved from medical records and the Swedish Cause of Death Register.</p><p>RESULTS: There were no differences between age groups, except being widowed, which was documented to a higher proportion in those aged 75+ (10% vs 28%, p &lt; 0.001). Nearly half of the total cohort had a prescription for antidepressants at the time of death, but increased suicide risk was noted in only 13%. Two groups emerged via cluster analysis. One large group (n = 197) was characterized by male sex and comparatively low proportions with notations related to mental ill-health. The other group (n = 80) was characterized by high rates of mental illness including suicidal ideation and prescribed psychoactive medication.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: We identified no clinically meaningful age group differences. Cluster analysis revealed a large, predominantly male group in which one third were prescribed antidepressants. Otherwise, there was little documentation related to mental health, suggesting other suicidal precipitants, underdiagnosis, and/or underestimation of the severity of mental illness in that group. This points to a need for data sources that go beyond medical records to inform targeted prevention efforts.</p>}},
  author       = {{Doering, Sabrina and Liljedahl, Sophie I and Lindström, Sara and Sinyor, Mark and Hedna, Khedidja and Bergqvist, Erik and Palmqvist Öberg, Nina and Wiktorsson, Stefan and Stefenson, Anne and Hartelius, Jana and Westrin, Åsa and Waern, Margda}},
  issn         = {{1545-7214}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{"Younger" and "Older" Old Adults Who Die by Suicide : A Comparison Study and Cluster Analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2025.05.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jagp.2025.05.006}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}