J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Feb;38(6):e40. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e40.

Temporal Trends and Characteristics of Adult Patients in Emergency Department Related to Suicide Attempt or Self-Harm in Korea, 2016–2020

• Lee KS
• Sung HK
• Yoo SY
• Min HS

• KMID: 2539489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e40

Abstract

Background
The implementation of an effective suicide prevention program requires the identification and monitoring of subpopulations with elevated risks for suicide in consideration of demographic characteristics, to facilitate the development of tailored countermeasures for tackling the risk factors of suicide. We examined the annual trends in emergency department (ED) visits for suicide attempts (SAs) or self-harm and investigated the sex- and age-specific characteristics of individuals who visited the ED for SA and self-harm.
Methods
Data on ED visits for SAs or self-harm in Korea from 2016 to 2020 were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System and assessed. We evaluated the age-standardized incidence rate of ED visits for SAs or self-harm, and hospital mortality among individuals who visited the ED for SAs or self-harm. In addition, the characteristics of the individuals were compared according to sex and age.
Results
We identified 145,963 ED visits for SAs or self-harm (0.42% of the total ED visits) during the study period. The rate of ED visits increased in the youngest age group (19–29 years old), and was more prominent among women (increased by an annual average of 22.5%), despite the coronavirus disease pandemic. The middle-aged group (45–64 years old) had a higher rate of mortality than other age groups, and the highest proportion of individuals on Medical Aid.
Conclusion
It is necessary to plan age- and gender-specific suicide prevention programs that focus on improving the limited public mental health resources for the vulnerable populations.

Keyword

Emergency Department; Female; Middle-Aged; Suicidal Attempt; Self-Harm

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Summary of results and disposition routes after ED visits for SA or self-harm. The proportion of disposition after the ED admission was calculated with the population treated in ED as the denominator (n = 142,882), except the proportion of patients who died after hospitalization (2,305/46,222).SA = suicide attempt, ED = emergency department, AMA = against medical discharge.

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  Fig. 2 Temporal trends of emergency department visit for suicide attempt or self-harm by sex, 2016–2020 (age standardized, per 100,000 persons).

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  Fig. 3 Overall mortality rate of patients who visited ED for suicide attempt or self-harm by sex, 2016–2020 (age standardized, per 1,000,000 persons). The mortality included the number of deaths on ED arrival, death in ED and death after hospitalization.ED = emergency department.

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