The effect of the relevant time period and frequency of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) on the risk of suicide among the dementia population remains unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether the risk of suicide is associated with the occurrence and cumulative number of MDD episodes among the dementia population. We identified a cohort of 625,218 patients aged ≥40 years with dementia from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Dataset (2007-2018). Among them, those who died from suicide after the first clinical visit for dementia within 7 years were identified as a case group. For each case, 4 controls without suicide on the case’s index date were matched by age, gender, and area of residence. The occurrence and frequency of MDD were determined from inpatient and outpatient records. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed with adjustment for potential confounding factors. During the period of 7 years before the index date, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of the association between suicide and previous MDD was 1.68 (95%CI 1.21-2.32). The significant AOR of suicide decreased from 3.67 to 2.35 as the investigated period of MDD was getting earlier before the index date. In addition to the first year before the index date, the cumulative number of MDD was associated with the risk of suicide in a dose-response gradient during the first year before the index date. The risk of suicide was almost a 2-fold increase in the dementia population with an antecedent MDD. The risk of suicide was most associated with MDD occurred in the 1st year before suicide.

Authors:
Chih-Ching Liu, Asia University, Taiwan
Chien-Hui Liu, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Chih-Ching Liu is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Asia University in Taiwan

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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