Widening Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Individuals Who Self-Harmed.
Crisis
; 2022 Oct 13.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2268326
ABSTRACT
Background:
Studies on COVID-19 pandemic-associated changes in mortality following self-harm remain scarce and inconclusive.Aims:
To compare mortality risks in individuals who had self-harmed to those for individuals who had not, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Waves 1 and 2) in Wales, the United Kingdom, using population-based routinely collected data.Method:
We linked whole population health data to all-cause mortality following an episode of self-harm between April 2016 and March 2021. Propensity score matching, Cox regression, and difference-in-differences were applied to compute changes in excess mortality (as ratios of hazard ratios, RHRs) before and during the pandemic for individuals who self-harmed.Results:
The difference in mortality for individuals who self-harmed compared to those who did not widened during Wave 1 (RHR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.04-4.03) and Wave 2 (RHR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.12-4.29) from before the pandemic. Stratification by sex and age group produced no significant subgroup differences although risk for younger than 65 years group were higher.Limitations:
Limitations include small sample size and incomplete data on cause-specific deaths during the pandemic.Conclusion:
Our results underscore continuous monitoring of mortality of individuals who self-harm and effective interventions to address any increases in mortality.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
0227-5910
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