Suicides among cancer patients in Estonia: a population-based study

The objective of this study was to determine the suicide risk among cancer patients in Estonia. This risk was examined in a cohort of 65 419 persons diagnosed with cancer in 1983-1998. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using the suicide rates of the population of Estonia as a reference. During 192 078 person-years of follow-up between 1983 and 2000, 197 suicides occurred in the cohort. An increased suicide risk was found for men (SMR = 1.73; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.45-2.01), but not for women (SMR = 0.50 95% CI 0.37-0.66). Men had the highest risk 90-179 days following their diagnosis (SMR = 4.27; 95% CI 2.81-6.21). During this time interval, among men, the risk was more pronounced for cancers of the oesophagus (SM R = 35.63; 95% CI 9.71-91.22) and pancreas (SMR = 14.53; 95% CI 1.76-52.50). This study provides further evidence that cancer is a risk factor for suicide, at least in men. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.