Suicide In Cuba Over 60 Years Old 2015-2020
Abstract
Dra Beatriz Corona Miranda, Lic Karen Alfonso Sague, Dr Ramón Prado Rodriguez, Dr Miguel Angel Martínez, Dra Niubel Diaz Padilla
Introduction: In the world every year, 700,000 people die by suicide. In the Americas, self-inflicted injury varies by region in 19.7% in North America and 7.8% in Central America. In Cuba, suicide is the tenth cause of death.
Aim: To characterize suicide mortality in Cuba in persons over 60 years of age 2015 - 2020.
Method: A retrospective descriptive study was performed. The universe was all the records of death by suicide over 60 years old (y.o.) in the mortality databases of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) of Cuba, from 2015 to 2020. The variables studied were: sex, age, skin color, occupation, marital status, methods. Cumulative mortality rates were calculated, gross, adjusted, sex-specific, ages, per 100,000 inhabitants. The percentage was calculated according to the variables.
Results. There were 4282 deaths due to suicide, of which 79.9% were men. From 2015 to 2020, adjusted suicide rates increased by 6.6%. The group of cases with 80 y.o. and older had the highest adjusted rate of 53.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest percentage occurred in the 60-69 age group (36.4%). According to marital status, those who did not have a stable partner predominated (49.3%), according to occupation, in retirees (55.3%). The method most used was hanging, with 80.0%.
Conclusions: Rates are lower among women and increase with age. The results contribute to the updating of the epidemiology of suicide in Cuba.