A Replication of a Possible Relationship Between Elderly Suicide Rates and Smoking Using Five-Year Data on Suicide Rates? A Cross-National Study

The relationship between the national prevalence of smoking & suicide rates in both genders in the age bands 65-74 & 75+ years was examined using a one-year average of five years data on suicide rates. Data were gathered from the World Health Organization & the United Nations Development Programme. On univariate analysis, the national prevalence of smoking in males was positively correlated with suicide rates in both age bands but this relationship was absent in females. On multivariate analysis, there was no independent relationship between the national prevalence of smoking in males & suicide rates in males in both age bands. Findings of this & another study suggest the absence of an independent relationship between the national prevalence of smoking & elderly suicide rates is accurate & robust. (29 refs.) JA