Hepatitis, HIV patients more likely to commit suicide post hospitalisation

People suffering from Hepatitis or HIV AIDS are more likely to commit suicide after being

People suffering from Hepatitis or HIV AIDS are more likely to commit suicide after being hospitalised, finds a new study.

Hospitalisation with infection is linked to a 42% higher risk of suicide death compared to the individuals without infection, claim researchers. (Shutterstock)

The study, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry investigated associations between infectious diseases and the risk of death by suicide.

Read: Over 2000 Indians got HIV due to unsafe blood transfusions in 18 months

Researchers studied those aged 15 and above and the infections were divided into categories like bacterial, viral, others and infection type such as sepsis, hepatitis, genital, central nervous system, HIV or AIDS.

There were about 8,09,384 (11.2%) individuals hospitalised with infection during follow-up. Among them, 32,683 suicide cases came up, and of those 7,892 (24.1%) individuals had been previously diagnosed with infection during hospitalisation.

More the infections, longer the treatment and higher the apparent risk of death by suicide, say scientists. (Shutterstock)

Study results suggest hospitalisation with infection was linked to a 42% higher risk of suicide death compared to those individuals without infection. Also, the study suggested that more the infections, longer the treatment and higher the apparent risk of death by suicide.

“Our findings support linking infections, proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory metabolites to increased risk of suicidal behaviour,” said Lena C Brundin, researcher at the Van Andel Research Institute in the US.

Read: Hepatitis C affects 12 million people in India

They also noted that an association between infection and suicide could also be an epiphenomenon or be impacted by other factors. The psychological effect of being hospitalised with a severe infection might affect the risk of suicide.

“Our findings indicate that infections may have a relevant role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of suicidal behaviour. Provided that the association between infection and the risk of death by suicide was causal, identification and early treatment of infections could be explored as a public health measure for prevention of suicide,” the study concludes.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.