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Socioeconomic factors and suicide risk in Polish cancer patients – a population-based cohort study exploring associations and implications
, 2, 1, 1
Affiliations- Polish National Cancer Registry, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
- Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
open access
Abstract
Introduction. This study aimed to explore socioeconomic factors influencing suicide rate in Polish cancer patients.
Material and methods. Data on cancer cases and socioeconomic covariates were obtained from the Polish National Cancer Registry and Statistics Poland. Suicide rates were calculated for each year. Multivariable linear regression analyses explored associations between unemployment, income, university education, access to physicians overall and to psychiatry hospitals, and suicide incidence.
Results. The study included 1.43 million cancer patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2019. Among them, 830 suicides were identified, with higher rates among men. Income per capita and higher education degrees were significant predictors of suicide among male cancer patients (p = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). However, no significant associations were found for female cancer patients. The regression models explained 13% of the variation in male suicide incidence.
Conclusions. Lower income and higher education increase suicide risk in male cancer patients, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Abstract
Introduction. This study aimed to explore socioeconomic factors influencing suicide rate in Polish cancer patients.
Material and methods. Data on cancer cases and socioeconomic covariates were obtained from the Polish National Cancer Registry and Statistics Poland. Suicide rates were calculated for each year. Multivariable linear regression analyses explored associations between unemployment, income, university education, access to physicians overall and to psychiatry hospitals, and suicide incidence.
Results. The study included 1.43 million cancer patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2019. Among them, 830 suicides were identified, with higher rates among men. Income per capita and higher education degrees were significant predictors of suicide among male cancer patients (p = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). However, no significant associations were found for female cancer patients. The regression models explained 13% of the variation in male suicide incidence.
Conclusions. Lower income and higher education increase suicide risk in male cancer patients, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Keywords
cancer; suicide; risk; epidemiology; cohort study
About this articleTitle
Socioeconomic factors and suicide risk in Polish cancer patients – a population-based cohort study exploring associations and implications
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Research paper (original)
Published online
2023-08-21
Page views
44
Article views/downloads
22
DOI
Keywords
cancer
suicide
risk
epidemiology
cohort study
Authors
Irmina M. Michałek
Florentino Luciano Caetano dos Santos
Urszula Wojciechowska
Joanna Didkowska
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