Objective: In this study, we attempt to explore whether living alone has any significant association with elderly suicide and whether this differs with gender.
Design: Explorative retrospective study.
Materials and Methods: Data was extracted from the records of coroner’s inquests into all unexpected deaths of persons aged 60 and over in Cheshire over a period of 13 years (1989-2001). The coroner’s office covers the whole county of Cheshire (1,000,000 of population).
Results: The study found no significant gender difference in “living alone” in elderly suicide victims. Females who were living alone showed a higher tendency to contact their GP prior to suicide and also to be known to psychiatric services. Elderly suicide victims who lived alone showed a significantly higher likelihood to leave evidence of intent (OR1.7, 95% CI 0.9-2.9, P<0.05) but less likely to use a violent suicidal method. Only men who lived alone were significantly more likely to suffer from a physical illness (P<0.05). Conclusion: Available data suggests that social isolation is an important correlate of late life suicide. Some studies have considered loneliness a risk factor of suicide that is not always related to depression. Leading a socially active life was studied as a potential protective factor against elderly suicide.
In our study, it appears that men who are living alone, although are at a higher risk of physical illness, are much less likely to be known to psychiatric services or to have made any contact with their GP prior to their suicide. Small sample size and confounding are likely to have influenced the findings. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of social isolation as a risk factor in elderly suicide
| Living alone 106 (53%) mean age 74 (sd8) | Not living alone 94 (47%) mean age 71 (sd 9) | ||||
| Male 58(55%) mean age 72 | Female 48 (45%) mean age 78 | Male 59 (63%) mean age 71 | Female 35 (37%) mean age 71 | ||
| Widowed P<001 | 27 (47%) | 34 (70%) | 8 (14%) | 11 (31%) | |
| Childlessness P<05 (women only) | 22 (38%) | 22 (46%) | 21 (36%) | 5 (14%) | |
| GP contact P<01 (women only) | 28 (48%) | 18 (38%) | 28 (48%) | 26 (74%) | |
| Violent method P>05 | 31 (53%) | 19 (40%) | 38 (64%) | 21 (60%) | |
| Evidence of intent P>05 | 36 (62%) | 24 (50%) | 25 (42%) | 16 (45%) | |
| Psychiatric morbidity P<001 (for women only) | 33 (57%) | 17 (35%) | 24 (41%) | 25 (71%) | |
| History of DSH P>05 | 8 (14%) | 9 (19%) | 10 (17%) | 12 (34%) | |
| Physical morbidity | 32 (55%) | 30 (63%) | 43 (73%) | 22 (63%) | |
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