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Visual impairment may increase suicide risk, large study suggests
Through its effect on poor health, visual impairment may increase the risk of suicide, according to a new analysis of results from the 1986-1996 National Health Interview Survey.
"Eye care professionals should be aware of the potential increased risk of suicide for patients with [visual impairment], especially those in poor health, and provide appropriate referrals for these patients," the study authors said.
Byron L. Lam, MD and colleagues in Florida and North Carolina examined the relationship between reported visual impairment and suicide using data available for 137,479 adults who had participated in the National Health Interview Survey that was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics between 1986 and 1996. All participants were 18 years or older at the time of the initial interview and provided sufficient demographic information for the investigators to perform mortality linkage through 2002; subsequently, information on visual impairment was obtained through annually administered questionnaires.
During a mean 11 years of follow-up, the investigators identified 200 suicide deaths.
After controlling for survey design, age, sex, race, marital status, number of nonocular health conditions and self-rated health, the investigators found that the direct effect of visual impairment on suicide was raised; however the effect was not significant (hazard ratio, 1.50).
Men, participants with poorer self-rated health and those with two or more nonocular health conditions were at a higher risk of suicide, according to the study.
In addition, the investigators observed a significant link between the indirect effect of visual impairment on suicide through poorer self-rated health (hazard ratio, 1.05) and nonocular health conditions (hazard ratio, 1.12).
However, the total effect of visual impairment on suicide was elevated but not significant (hazard ratio, 1.64), according to the study, published in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.