Associations between self-harm and chronic disease among adolescents: Cohort study using statewide emergency department data

Relationship between suicide attempt and medical morbidity in adolescent girls

This study assessed whether suicide attempts before 20 years of age were associated with medical morbidity later in life. We carried out a cohort study of 169,806 girls under age 20 years between 1989 and 2019 in Quebec, Canada. The cohort included 8086 girls admitted for suicide attempts, matched on age and year with 161,720 girls with no attempt. Outcomes included hospitalization for medical conditions, such as infection, allergic disorders, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death from nonpsychiatric causes during 31 years of follow-up. We computed hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of adolescent suicide attempt with these health outcomes using Cox regression models adjusted for preexisting mental illness, substance use disorders, and socioeconomic deprivation. Compared with matched controls, adolescent girls with suicide attempts had a greater risk of hospitalization for infection (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.44-1.68), allergic disorders (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.45-2.05), cardiovascular disease (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.12-1.52), and mortality (HR 3.11, 95% CI 1.69-5.70). Associations were present regardless of the age at the time of the suicide attempt, but were stronger for girls with repeated attempts. Associations were also more pronounced within the first 5 years of the attempt, although suicide attempts remained strongly associated with mortality throughout the 31-year follow-up period. The findings suggest that adolescent girls with suicide attempts have an elevated risk of medical morbidity and mortality and may benefit from closer clinical management to prevent adverse health outcomes.

Health-Care Utilization Due to Suicide Attempts Among Homeless Youth in New York State

Suicide remains the leading cause of death among homeless youth. We assessed differences in health-care utilization between homeless and nonhomeless youth presenting to the emergency department or hospital after a suicide attempt. New York Statewide Inpatient and Emergency Department Databases (2009-2014) were used to identify homeless and nonhomeless youth aged 10-17 who utilized health-care services following a suicide attempt. To evaluate associations with homelessness, we used logistic regression models for use of violent means, intensive care unit utilization, log-transformed linear regression models for hospitalization cost, and negative binomial regression models for length of stay. All models adjusted for individual characteristics with a hospital random effect and year fixed effect. We identified 18,026 suicide attempts with health-care utilization rates of 347.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 317.5, 377.0) and 67.3 (95% CI: 66.3, 68.3) per 100,000 person-years for homeless and nonhomeless youth, respectively. Length of stay for homeless youth was statistically longer than that for nonhomeless youth (incidence rate ratio = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.77). All homeless youth who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt were subsequently hospitalized. This could suggest a higher acuity upon presentation among homeless youth compared with nonhomeless youth. Interventions tailored to homeless youth should be developed.

Impact of Co-occurring Mental Disorders and Chronic Physical Illnesses on Frequency of Emergency Department Use and Hospitalization for Mental Health Reasons

Background: Patients with mental disorders (MD) are at high risk for a wide range of chronic physical illnesses (CPI), often resulting in greater use of acute care services. This study estimated risk of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization for mental health (MH) reasons among 678 patients with MD and CPI compared to 1,999 patients with MD only. Methods: Patients visiting one of six Quebec (Canada) ED for MH reasons and at onset of a MD in 2014-15 (index year) were included. Negative binomial models comparing the two groups estimated risk of ED use and hospitalization at 12-month follow-up to index ED visit, controlling for clinical, sociodemographic, and service use variables. Results: Patients with MD, more severe overall clinical conditions and those who received more intensive specialized MH care had higher risks of frequent ED use and hospitalization. Continuity of medical care protected against both ED use and hospitalization, while general practitioner (GP) consultations protected against hospitalization only. Patients aged 65+ had lower risk of ED use, whereas risk of hospitalization was higher for the 45-64- vs. 12-24-year age groups, and for men vs. women. Conclusion: Strategies including assertive community treatment, intensive case management, integrated co-occurring treatment, home treatment, and shared care may improve adequacy of care for patients with MD-CPI, as well as those with MD only whose clinical profiles were severe. Prevention and outreach strategies may also be promoted, especially among men and older age groups.

Emergency consultations for male adolescents: Somatic and psychological characteristics and profiles of regular users. A retrospective chart review

INTRODUCTION

Male adolescents' mental health has been understudied compared to their female counterparts and is not well known among health professionals. This is particularly problematic in emergencies because the number of such patients is increasing.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the type of demand for care and the characteristics of male adolescents' emergency room visits. To describe the sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics of regular users.

METHOD

This is a retrospective study of all medical records of male adolescents aged 14-18, admitted between 2014 and 2015 to the pediatric emergency room of a Swiss university hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical data (e.g., degree of urgency, diagnosis, length of stay, emergency service use, and emergency discharge destinations) were collected. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed using STATA 13.1 software.

RESULTS

Over the 2-year study period, 2045 male adolescents consulted in emergency departments for a total of 3199 admissions. The average age was 15.6 years (SD, 1). Most consultations were non-urgent (93%) and the reasons included musculoskeletal (43%), dermatological (13%), and digestive (10%) complaints. Forty-two male adolescents (2%) had four or more visits within the 2-year period and were considered regular users; they were also more likely to have psychological complaints (adjusted OR, 5.04; 95% CI, 1.81-13.72) and comorbidities (adjusted OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.25-5.21) when compared to their counterparts with fewer than four visits.

CONCLUSION

Since regular users are at greater risk of having psychological complaints and comorbidities during their first emergency room visit, a systematic assessment of these adolescents' mental health levels and overall health indicators is recommended.