Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Emily M. Lund; Trisha A. Hostetter; Jeri E. Forster; Claire A. Hoffmire; Kelly A. Stearns-Yoder; Lisa A. Brenner; Maryam Tahmasbi Sohi

doi:10.1002/mus.27181

Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Emily M. Lund, Trisha A. Hostetter, Jeri E. Forster, Claire A. Hoffmire, Kelly A. Stearns-Yoder, Lisa A. Brenner, Maryam Tahmasbi Sohi

Department of Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of death by suicide for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study. Extended Cox regression models were used to compare the hazard of suicide between the ALS and the unexposed groups. Results: The hazard of suicide was 3.98 times higher for those with ALS than for those without (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-6.00; P <.0001). After adjusting for covariates, those with ALS remained at increased risk (hazard ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.31-5.24; P <.001). Conclusions: Among those seeking care in the VHA, individuals with ALS are at increased risk for dying by suicide. Additional suicide prevention efforts, including strategies for reducing access to lethal means, are warranted.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	807-811
Number of pages	5
Journal	Muscle and Nerve
Volume	63
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.27181
State	Published - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Keywords

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lou Gehrig's disease
suicide
veterans

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10.1002/mus.27181

Cite this

@article{d9eb1f3050c44b3d9dce13507e9b8c34,

title = "Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis",

abstract = "Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of death by suicide for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study. Extended Cox regression models were used to compare the hazard of suicide between the ALS and the unexposed groups. Results: The hazard of suicide was 3.98 times higher for those with ALS than for those without (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-6.00; P <.0001). After adjusting for covariates, those with ALS remained at increased risk (hazard ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.31-5.24; P <.001). Conclusions: Among those seeking care in the VHA, individuals with ALS are at increased risk for dying by suicide. Additional suicide prevention efforts, including strategies for reducing access to lethal means, are warranted.",

keywords = "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, suicide, veterans",

author = "Lund, {Emily M.} and Hostetter, {Trisha A.} and Forster, {Jeri E.} and Hoffmire, {Claire A.} and Stearns-Yoder, {Kelly A.} and Brenner, {Lisa A.} and {Tahmasbi Sohi}, Maryam",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1002/mus.27181",

language = "English",

volume = "63",

pages = "807--811",

journal = "Muscle and Nerve",

issn = "0148-639X",

publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Inc.",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AU - Lund, Emily M.

AU - Hostetter, Trisha A.

AU - Forster, Jeri E.

AU - Hoffmire, Claire A.

AU - Stearns-Yoder, Kelly A.

AU - Brenner, Lisa A.

AU - Tahmasbi Sohi, Maryam

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of death by suicide for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study. Extended Cox regression models were used to compare the hazard of suicide between the ALS and the unexposed groups. Results: The hazard of suicide was 3.98 times higher for those with ALS than for those without (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-6.00; P <.0001). After adjusting for covariates, those with ALS remained at increased risk (hazard ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.31-5.24; P <.001). Conclusions: Among those seeking care in the VHA, individuals with ALS are at increased risk for dying by suicide. Additional suicide prevention efforts, including strategies for reducing access to lethal means, are warranted.

AB - Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of death by suicide for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study. Extended Cox regression models were used to compare the hazard of suicide between the ALS and the unexposed groups. Results: The hazard of suicide was 3.98 times higher for those with ALS than for those without (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-6.00; P <.0001). After adjusting for covariates, those with ALS remained at increased risk (hazard ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.31-5.24; P <.001). Conclusions: Among those seeking care in the VHA, individuals with ALS are at increased risk for dying by suicide. Additional suicide prevention efforts, including strategies for reducing access to lethal means, are warranted.

KW - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

KW - Lou Gehrig's disease

KW - suicide

KW - veterans

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101145800&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/mus.27181

DO - 10.1002/mus.27181

M3 - Article

C2 - 33470429

AN - SCOPUS:85101145800

SN - 0148-639X

VL - 63

SP - 807

EP - 811

JO - Muscle and Nerve

JF - Muscle and Nerve

IS - 6

ER -

Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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