Key result
In Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder, recent suicide attempts were significantly associated with lower total cholesterol levels (OR 0.36) and more psychotic symptoms (OR 2.40).
Why the study?
Metabolic disturbances have been linked to suicidality, but little is known about the association between suicide risk and metabolic disturbances among individuals with depression.
Are metabolic disturbances associated with recent suicide attempts in Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder?
Cross-Sectional (n=288)
No
Are metabolic disturbances associated with recent suicide attempts in Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder?
Odds Ratio: 0.36 (95% CI 0.15–0.89)
p-value: p=0.03
Lower plasma total cholesterol levels may be associated with recent suicide attempts in Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder.
Lower cholesterol may mark recent suicide attempts in MDD inpatients; hypothesis-generating and requires longitudinal validation before clinical use.
BACKGROUND: Metabolic disturbances have been correlated with suicidality, but little is known about the association between suicide risk and metabolic disturbances among individuals with depression. This study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical correlations, especially cardio-metabolic associated factors of recent suicide attempts in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: A total of 288 MDD inpatients were recruited. Their clinical and demographic data together with plasma glucose, lipid and thyroid function parameters were collected. Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were rated for most of the patients. RESULTS: Of these MDD inpatients, 20.14% had attempted suicide during the past 1 month. Compared to those who had not attempted suicide, the suicide attempters had a significantly longer duration of illness, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, lower total cholesterol, and more psychotic symptoms. However, all these significant results did not survive after the bonferroni correction (all p > 0.05). A logistic regression analysis indicated that suicide attempts were associated with the lower total cholesterol and more psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis of the association of low plasma cholesterol level and recent suicidal attempts in patients with MDD.
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Ma et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Major depressive disorder (n=288). Total cholesterol was evaluated on Recent suicide attempt (past 1 month) (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15-0.89, p=0.03). In Chinese inpatients with major depressive disorder, recent suicide attempts were significantly associated with lower total cholesterol levels (OR 0.36) and more psychotic symptoms (OR 2.40).
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