Suicide and stomach ulcer mortality rate in Russia, 1965-2005.
BACKGROUND
Peptic ulcer disease is a common clinical problem. The relationship between stress and ulcer has been shown in a large series of methodologically sound studies.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the effect of psychosocial distress on stomach ulcer mortality rate at the aggregate level.


METHODS
Trends in age-adjusted, sex-specific suicide (as an integral indicator for psychosocial distress) and stomach ulcer mortality rate in Russia from 1965 to 2005 were analyzed employing an ARIMA analysis in order to assess the bivariate relationship between the two time series.


RESULTS
Time series analysis indicate the presence of a statistically significant association between the two time series for males (r=0.45; SE=0.16). The association between the two time series for females was also positive, however it was not statistically significant (r=0.25; SE=0.14).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest a positive association between male suicide and stomach ulcer mortality rate at the aggregate level. This paper presents new epidemiological evidence that supports the psychosomatic concept of stomach ulcer disease.
Razvodovsky
Yury E
YE
Grodno State Medical University, Belarus. razvodovsky@grsmu.by
D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D012306:Risk; D012426:Russia; D012737:Sex Factors; D012922:Social Change; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends