Fractures as a suicidal behavior risk factor: A nationwide population-based cohort study

Osteoporosis and fracture as risk factors for self-harm and suicide: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Increase in presentations of self-harm to primary care, a risk factor of suicide, has led to a growing interest in identifying at-risk populations.

AIM

To examine whether osteoporosis or fractures are risk factors for self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a systematic review of observational studies in adults (>18 years) that had examined the role of osteoporosis and/or fractures in subsequent self-harm, suicidal ideation, and/or suicide.

METHOD

Six databases were searched from inception to July 2019. Additional citation tracking of eligible studies was undertaken in November 2022. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of full-text articles were performed independently by at least two authors. Where possible, meta-analysis was run on comparable risk estimates.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included: two examined the outcome of self-harm, three suicidal ideation, and 10 suicide. In approximately half of studies on osteoporosis, the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide remained significant. However, pooling of adjusted odds ratios from three studies indicated no association between osteoporosis and suicide (1.14, 95% confidence interval = 0.88 to 1.49). Nine studies examined the risk of a mixture of fracture types across different outcomes, limiting comparisons. However, all studies examining vertebral fracture (n = 3) reported a significant adjusted negative association for self-harm and suicide.

CONCLUSION

Patients with vertebral fractures, a risk potential factor for suicide, may benefit from clinical case finding for mood disorders with personalised primary care management. However, because of the limited number and quality of studies and mixed findings, further examination of these associations is warranted.

Psychological dysfunction associated with calcaneal fractures

INTRODUCTION

The calcaneus is the most commonly fractured hindfoot bone, accounting for over 60% of all tarsal fractures. The aim of this study was to compare the mechanism of injury and psychological health status in patients presenting with calcaneal fractures to an age- and sex-matched control group with ankle fractures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was undertaken within an orthopaedic unit at a tertiary hospital. An electronic medical record chart review was performed to identify eligible patients. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. Between-group differences were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between fracture type and underlying psychopathology, adjusting for mechanism of injury.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and fifteen patients met the eligibility criteria for calcaneal fractures and these patients were subsequently matched to 215 ankle fracture patients. Men accounted for 154 (71.6%) of the patients in each group. Over half (51.2%) of all calcaneal fractures were due to an uncontrolled fall above one-metre, as opposed to 26.0% of ankle fractures, p < 0.001. Falling from a standing height was more common in the ankle fracture group, 37 (17.2%) versus 10 (4.7%), p < 0.001. Patients with calcaneal fractures were more likely to have a diagnosed psychological health complaint, 63 (29.3%) versus 32 (14.9%), p < 0.001. Suicidal ideation was significantly more common in the calcaneal fracture group 14 (6.5%) versus 3 (1.4%), p = 0.011. The presence of premorbid psychopathology was associated with calcaneal fracture, after adjusting for mechanism of injury (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.32 to 3.65, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Calcaneal and ankle fractures display differences in both the mechanism of injury and the history of psychological health conditions. However, after adjusting for the mechanism of injury, diagnosed premorbid psychopathology remains twice as likely in someone with a calcaneal fracture as opposed to an ankle fracture. It may be prudent for orthopaedic surgeons to consider further investigations of psychological health when managing patients with a calcaneal fracture.

Relationship between physical conditions and attempted or completed suicide in more than 9,300 individuals from the United Kingdom: a case-control study

AIMS

The present study of 9,352 adults from the United Kingdom aimed to analyze associations between physical conditions and attempted or completed suicide.

METHODS

This case-control study included patients aged 16-90 years with a first attempted or completed suicide who were followed in general practices in the United Kingdom between January 2008 and December 2017 (index date). Individuals who had not attempted or completed suicide were matched (1:1) to those who had attempted or completed suicide by sex, age, index year, index month, and practice. Variables included sex, age, index year, index month, and all physical and psychiatric conditions diagnosed in more than 1% of patients who had attempted or completed suicide in the year prior to the index date. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess possible associations.

RESULTS

The case-control study included 4,676 patients who had and 4,676 patients who had not attempted or completed suicide. After (1:1) matching, 52.1% of the patients were women and the mean (standard deviation) age was 33.6 (15.1) years. After adjusting for psychiatric conditions, we found that three past-year physical conditions were significantly associated with attempted or completed suicide. These conditions were unspecified injuries to the head (odds ratio [OR]=4.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.27-8.00), sleep disorders (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.09-2.32), and epilepsy (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.04-2.39).

CONCLUSIONS

Head injuries, sleep disorders, and epilepsy were associated with attempted or completed suicide. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these relationships.