Patient characteristics prior to suicide attempts among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites in the United States

Abstract

BackgroundSuicide rates among Hispanics in the United States are much lower than rates among Whites. The reasons for this difference are uncertain, therefore we compared patient characteristics between Hispanic and White patients with a suicide attempt. MethodsPatients with a suicide attempt (n = 8641) between 2012 and 2018 were identified by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in a nationally distributed electronic health record data base. Patient demographics, geographic region, health services use, depression treatment, psychiatric and physical comorbidities were measured in the 2 years prior to a suicide attempt. ResultsMost patients with a suicide attempt were White (78.6%) and 6.2% were Hispanic, a majority were 36–64 years of age and 57.3% were female. Younger age and lack of health insurance were significantly (p < .0001) more common among Hispanic compared to White patients with a suicide attempt. Depression treatment was significantly (p < .0001) less common among Hispanic vs. White patients. Sleep disorder and all psychiatric and substance use disorders, except for drug use disorder, were significantly (p-value range: 0.026–<0.0001) more prevalent in the two years before suicide attempt in White patients. ConclusionsDiagnosed psychopathology is more common among White vs. Hispanic patients who attempt suicide. Lack of insurance and low depression treatment rates may be associated with suicide attempt among Hispanics. Additional research is needed to determine the mix of factors that predict suicide attempt among Whites, Hispanics, and other minorities.