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. 2019 Jun;20(2):171-177.
doi: 10.1089/ham.2018.0130. Epub 2019 May 2.

Effect of Altitude on Veteran Suicide Rates

Hana Sabic  1 , Brent Kious  2 , Danielle Boxer  1 , Colleen Fitzgerald  1 , Colin Riley  1 , Lindsay Scholl  1 , Erin McGlade  1   2   3 , Deborah Yurgelun-Todd  1   2   3 , Perry F Renshaw  1   2   3 , Douglas G Kondo  1   2
Affiliations

Effect of Altitude on Veteran Suicide Rates

Hana Sabic et al. High Alt Med Biol. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Aims: Suicide rates in the general population in the United States are correlated with altitude. To explore factors contributing to suicide among military veterans, we examined the relationship between veteran state-level suicide rates and altitude for 2014, including firearm-related and nonfirearm-related rates. Methods: Pearson's coefficients were calculated for altitude and each outcome. Mixed linear models were used to determine the association between suicide and altitude while adjusting for demographic confounds. Results: State mean altitude was significantly correlated with total veteran suicide rate (r = 0.678, p < 0.0001), veteran firearm-related suicide rate (r = 0.578, p < 0.0001), and veteran nonfirearm suicide rate (r = 0.609, p < 0.0001). In mixed models, altitude was significantly correlated with total veteran suicide rate (β = 0.331, p < 0.05), veteran firearm suicides (β = 0.282, p < 0.05), and veteran nonfirearm suicides (β = 0.393, p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study adds to evidence linking altitude and suicide rates, arguing for additional research into the relationship between altitude and suicide among veterans.

Keywords: altitude; elevation; suicide; veterans.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Scatterplot of veteran and nonveteran suicide rates and mean altitude in the contiguous U.S. states.
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Scatterplot of veteran firearm and nonfirearm suicide rates and mean altitude in the contiguous U.S. states.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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