Respiratory Function and Other Biological Risk Factors for Completed Suicide: 40 Years of Follow-Up of European Cohorts of the Seven Countries Study

In the prospective cohort of the Seven Countries Study, 5,321 middle-aged men from Finland, Serbia, Italy, & Greece were tested to assess which biological risk factors independently identified subjects at increased risk of suicide. Completed suicide was assessed during 40 years of follow-up. Biological cardiovascular risk factors (including forced vital capacity & height) were tested for their role as predictors in multivariable Cox models stratified by country. There were 64 suicides in the follow-up period. In univariable models, only forced vital capacity & height were strongly inversely related with suicide. Socioeconomic status & being unmarried were potential confounders. Poor respiratory function in middle-aged men was an independent risk factor for completed suicide. (30 refs.)