Characteristics of cancer patients who died by suicide in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics of cancer patients who died by suicide in comparison with cancer-free cases. Suicide data from the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office from 2009 to 2013 were extracted retrospectively. A total of 503 (5.1%) out of 9841 people who committed suicide had cancer; age ranged from 26 to 97 years. The cancer patients were significantly older than the cancer-free cases. There were significantly more cancer patients with cohabiters than cancer-free cases with cohabiters. Only half of young to middle-aged subjects had a job in both groups. There were significantly more cancer patients who lived on pensions and welfare assistance, and less cancer patients who drink or smoke than those without cancer. Given the high incidence of suicide in elderly cancer patients, healthcare professionals should pay attention for risk even in cancer patients who have cohabiters, benefit from a pension, and do not drink or smoke.
Japan Support Center for Suicide Countermeasures, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo.
Maiko
M
Fujimori
Tokyo Medical Examinar's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Wakako
W
Hikiji
Tokyo Medical Examinar's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Takanobu
T
Tanifuji
Tokyo Medical Examinar's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Hideto
H
Suzuki
Department of Health and Social Welfare for the Disabled, Health and Welfare Bureau, Kawasaki City, Saiwai-ku, Kanagawa, Japan.
Tadashi
T
Takeshima
Department of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo.
Toshihiko
T
Matsumoto
Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
Takashi
T
Yamauchi
College of Comprehensive Psychology, Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Osaka.
Kenji
K
Kawano
Tokyo Medical Examinar's Office, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Tatsushige
T
Fukunaga
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014041:Tokyo / Q000453:epidemiology
cancer patients; elderly; suicide; unemployment