The characteristics of older people suicides by sex and age subgroups.

As the older population steadily grows, a corresponding increase in elderly suicides is also expected. In addition, due to differences in the physical and psychosocial characteristics of this age group, the characteristics of elderly suicides are predicted to be different to those of other groups. In this study, we aimed to report the characteristics of suicides 60 years and older according to sex and age subgroups. We retrospectively reviewed the autopsy reports of individuals aged 60 and older who committed suicide in Turkey during the 10-year period between 2005 and 2014. Their age, sex, cause of death, and year, month, season, place, and method of suicide were analyzed. Comparisons were made based on sex, age subgroup, demographic variables, and descriptive characteristics of the suicides. Of 17,942 forensic autopsies, 525 were elderly suicides. Of these, 77.3% were men and the mean age was 71.26 ± 8.16 (range, 60-94) years. There were statistically significant differences in suicide method according to sex (p < 0.001, X = 43.984) and age subgroups (p = 0.001, X = 51.457). For both sexes, hanging was the most common suicide method (59.4%) and the majority of suicides occurred at home (73.1%). The suicides occurred more frequently in the 65-74 age subgroup, in the summer, and in the months of June and July. Identifying the characteristics of elderly suicides, especially by sex and age subgroups, may be beneficial for suicide risk assessment and the development of prediction and prevention programs.

Sex determination from the sternal end of the rib by osteometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish a sample group of Turkish population to determine sex from the sternal end of the ribs. Sex determination from the human skeleton bones is a simple and specific method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The specimens consisted of right fourth (4th) ribs of 78 females and 173 males of known age, sex and race during 1994-1997 in Izmir, Turkey. A discriminant function analysis showed that the most helpful parameter in the young group was superior-inferior height (SIH), and both SIH and anterior-posterior breadth (APB) in the older group. Modified discriminant score formulae for both young and old groups to determine sex for Turkish population was calculated. RESULTS: The results indicated that the accuracy of sex determination was 88.6% in the young group (phase 1-4, age 15-32), 86.5% in the older group (phase 5-8, age 33-89). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that sexual dimorphism can be assessable by using a single rib, right fourth rib in a Turkish population from ages 13 to 89. SIH of the rib is the most reliable parameter; APB follows it.