title: Sex- and age-related increase in prevalence rates of death wishes and suicidal ideation in the community: results from the KORA-F3 Augsburg Study with 3,154 men and women, 35 to 84 years of age.
abstract: Among risk factors for suicide, suicidal ideation (SID) is of paramount importance. This study sought to determine sex- and age-related SID point prevalence rates in the general population. A population-based survey of 3154 subjects, 35 to 84 years, conducted in 2004/05 in southern Germany, identified 170 subjects (5.4%; 95% CI 4.6-6.2) suffering from SID within the last 14 days. Age-adjusted short-term period prevalence in women (6.0%, 95% CI 4.9.-7.2) was higher than in men (4.0%, 95% CI 3.1-5.1). Among 10-year age groups, sex-related differences were only significant in middle-aged subjects (55-64 years). Prevalence increased significantly with age, leading to a prevalence of >10% in the oldest age group (75-84 years). The population-based approach demonstrates a substantial proportion of subjects suffering from SID, particularly in older age groups.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany. ladwig@helmholtz-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ladwig
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klupsch
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruf
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisinger
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erazo
authors.forename: Heinz-Erich
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires