Factors affecting patients who attempted suicide in the emergency department due to the prolonged pandemic of COVID-19

Author:

Kim HyunjiORCID,Durey AreumORCID,Kang SooORCID,Lee Won KyungORCID,Kim Ji HyeORCID,Han Seung BaikORCID,Lee Yu JinORCID

Abstract

Objective This study examined the characteristics of patients who attempted suicide in the emergency department before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods We compared data from patients in the emergency department following suicide attempts between January 2018 and December 2021. The patients were categorized into two groups: “pre–COVID-19” and “during COVID-19” pandemic.Results The findings revealed an increasing trend of suicide attempts during the study period. Suicide attempts were reported at 1,107 before the COVID-19 pandemic and 1,356 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients who attempted suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic were younger (38.0±18.5 years vs. 40.7±18.4 years, P<0.01), had a smaller proportion of men (36% vs. 44%, P<0.01), and had fewer medical comorbidities (20.2% vs. 23.6%, P<0.05). The group during the COVID-19 pandemic reported better hygiene conditions (50.5% vs. 40.8%, P<0.01) and lower alcohol consumption (27.7% vs. 37.6%, P<0.01). Patients who attempted suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher rates of use of psychiatric medications and previous suicide attempts. The most common reasons for the suicide attempt were unstable psychiatric disorders (38.8%), poor interpersonal relationships (20.5%), and economic difficulties (14.0%). Drug poisoning (44.1%) was the most common method of suicide attempts. Subgroup analysis with patients who attributed their suicide attempts to COVID-19 revealed a higher level of education (30.8%) and employment status (69.2%), with economic difficulties (61.6%) being the primary cause of suicide attempts.Conclusion These findings suggest that the prolonged duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on social and economic factors have influenced suicide attempts.

Funder

Inha University

Publisher

The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine

Subject

Emergency Nursing,Emergency Medicine

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