Hospital patients with infectious diseases are more prone to suicide

Study finds relationship between suicides and infections
The World Health Organization (WHO) figures show that more than 800,000 people die each year from suicide. A new study now discovered a new risk factor for suicides. Researchers found that people with infectious diseases in a hospital are more prone to suicide.

Scientists from the Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark found in an investigation that there could be a link between infections, hospitalization and suicides. Hospital patients with an infection have an increased risk of suicide. The doctors published the results of their new study in the journal "JAMA Psychiatry".

Death by suicide is a terrible blow to all acquaintances and relatives. The reasons for suicide are usually difficult to predict. Researchers now found a link between suicide, hospitalization and infection. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

Scientists are studying the data of more than 7.2 million subjects
In recent years, there have been many studies of the causes or causes of suicide. For example, another recent study found that the tremendous pressure on achievement is driving more and more students into suicide. Danish researchers have now analyzed more than 7.2 million people over the age of 15 for their research. They looked for a link between infectious diseases and death by suicide. Patients in hospitals that suffer from an infection have an increased risk of committing suicide, the doctors report on the results. Patients with HIV, AIDS or hepatitis have the highest suicide risk, the authors add.

In the course of the study, 32,700 subjects committed suicide
Of the participating subjects, a total of 11.2 percent were infected with a hospital. These included, for example, HIV, hepatitis, infections of the digestive system, the blood or the lungs, say the experts. In the course of the study, nearly 32,700 of these patients died from suicide. A quarter of these people were previously infected with a hospital, say the authors. The results of the investigation suggest that hospital patients with an infection have a 42 percent increased risk of suicide by death. People with multiple infections or patients undergoing long-term hospital care showed an increased risk of suicide, the researchers explain.

Hospital patients with infection have a 42% increased suicide risk
When patients spent only four days or less in hospital, their risk of suicide was 42 percent higher than those without infection. However, this risk increased dramatically to 138 percent if they were in hospital for more than 94 days. But not only sick people in clinics have an increased risk of suicide. Independent studies have already identified other risk groups for suicide. For example, young homosexual and bisexual men commit suicide up to six times more frequently. In addition, bullying in teenagers can lead to a high risk of suicide.

The number of infections also increases suicide risk
If people had only a single infection, the risk of suicide increased less markedly than with multiple concurrent infections. However, sufferers suffering from seven or more infections, their suicide risk is increased by 190 percent compared to subjects without infection, the scientists explain.

Infections influence the pathophysiological mechanisms of suicide behavior
While the study did not establish a conclusive causal relationship, the findings support a link between the risk of suicidal behavior and infections, or proinflammatory cytokines and metabolites of inflammation, the researchers explain. However, the connection could possibly also be influenced by other factors. For example, the psychological impact of a hospital stay with a serious infection can affect our risk of suicide, the doctors add. However, the results suggest that infections may play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of suicidal behavior, say the authors. (As)