Key result
African American veterans undergoing major surgery had an increased risk of suicidal behavior and ideation over 3 years, whereas Hispanic veterans did not.
Why the study?
Are African American and Hispanic veterans at increased risk for suicidal behavior and ideation following major surgery?
Cohort (n=89,995)
Are African American and Hispanic veterans at increased risk for suicidal behavior and ideation following major surgery?
African American veterans face a significantly increased risk of suicidal behavior and ideation in the 3 years following major surgery, highlighting a need for tailored postoperative monitoring.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant enhanced postoperative suicide screening in African American veterans; leaves open causality and generalizability beyond this cohort.
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated factors associated with suicidal behavior and ideation (SBI) during 3 years of follow-up among 89,995 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who underwent major surgery from October 2005 to September 2006. METHODS: We analyzed administrative data using Cox proportional hazards models. SBI was ascertained by International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision codes. RESULTS: African Americans (18% of sample; 16,252) were at an increased risk for SBI (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 1.32), whereas Hispanics were not (HR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.95, 1.28). Other risk factors included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, pain disorders, postoperative new-onset depression, and postoperative complications; female gender and married status were protective against SBI. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative period might be a time of heightened risk for SBI among minority patients in the VHA. Tailored monitoring and postoperative management by minority status might be required to achieve care equity.
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Copeland et al. (2014) conducted a cohort in Postoperative state in Veterans (n=89,995). African American race vs. Reference group was evaluated on Suicidal behavior and ideation (SBI) (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.32). African American veterans undergoing major surgery had an increased risk of suicidal behavior and ideation over 3 years, whereas Hispanic veterans did not.
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