Rates and characteristics of elderly suicide in China, 2013-14

- There is very limited information on the epidemiological patterns of elderly suicide in China. China's elderly suicide rate (ESR) is 34.5 per 100000 in 2013-14, higher than many other countries in the world.
- While elderly population accounts for 8.9% of the total population, elderly suicides represent 38.2% of suicide victims.
- ESRs are higher in men than women, in rural than urban residence, and in central than eastern/western China.

BackgroundThe number of older adults (OAs) is growing rapidly and the elderly suicide rate (ESR) is highest among all age-groups in China. Examining the epidemiology of elderly suicide (ES) may facilitate population-specific suicide prevention efforts, however, little is known about the patterns of ES in China.ObjectiveTo describe the rates and characteristics of ES in China during 2013-14.MethodsSuicide mortality data by gender, quinquennial age-group, residence (urban/rural) and geographic location (east/central/west) were obtained from China's Integrated National Mortality Surveillance System for 2013-14. Crude ESRs of OAs aged 65 years or above were standardized to the 2010 China's Census population and adjusted for under-reporting.ResultsWhile OAs comprised 8.9% of the Chinese population, they represented 38.2% of suicide deaths. The average annual ESR in China was 34.5 per 100000 in 2013-14. ESRs varied widely across OA subgroups, with the highest rates in central rural men (67.1) and women (53.1), and the lowest rate in eastern urban women (13.6). Male gender (incident rate ratio [IRR]=1.47), every five-year increase in age (IRR=1.33), rural residence (IRR=1.83), and geographic location of central China (IRR=1.93) were significantly associated with increased number of ESs.LimitationsInformation on means of ES are lacking in the data source.ConclusionsESs disproportionately account for a large portion of China's current total suicides, and ESR, particularly in central rural OAs, is very high in China. Prevention of ES should be given priority as an important public health issue in China. Central rural OAs are key target population for current ES prevention.