Rachel S Bergmans1, Peter Larson2, Erica Bennion3, Briana Mezuk3, Matthew C Wozniak4, Allison L Steiner4, Carina J Gronlund2. 1. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA. Electronic address: rbergs@med.umich.edu. 2. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA. 3. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. 4. Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Seasonal trends in suicide mortality are observed worldwide, potentially aligning with the seasonal release of aeroallergens. However, only a handful of studies have examined whether aeroallergens increase the risk of suicide, with inconclusive results thus far. The goal of this study was to use a time-stratified case-crossover design to test associations of speciated aeroallergens (evergreen, deciduous, grass, and ragweed) with suicide deaths in Ohio, USA (2007-2015). METHODS: Residential addresses for 12,646 persons who died by suicide were linked with environmental data at the 4-25 km grid scale including atmospheric aeroallergen concentrations, maximum temperature, sunlight, particulate matter <2.5 μm, and ozone. A case-crossover design was used to examine same-day and 7-day cumulative lag effects on suicide. Analyses were stratified by age group, gender, and educational level. RESULTS: In general, associations were null between aeroallergens and suicide. Stratified analyses revealed a relationship between grass pollen and same-day suicide for women (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 1.44, 10.22) and those with a high school degree or less (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.18, 3.49). CONCLUSIONS: While aeroallergens were generally not significantly related to suicide in this sample, these findings provide suggestive evidence for an acute relationship of grass pollen with suicide for women and those with lower education levels. Further research is warranted to determine whether susceptibility to speciated aeroallergens may be driven by underlying biological mechanisms or variation in exposure levels.
BACKGROUND: Seasonal trends in suicide mortality are observed worldwide, potentially aligning with the seasonal release of aeroallergens. However, only a handful of studies have examined whether aeroallergens increase the risk of suicide, with inconclusive results thus far. The goal of this study was to use a time-stratified case-crossover design to test associations of speciated aeroallergens (evergreen, deciduous, grass, and ragweed) with suicide deaths in Ohio, USA (2007-2015). METHODS: Residential addresses for 12,646 persons who died by suicide were linked with environmental data at the 4-25 km grid scale including atmospheric aeroallergen concentrations, maximum temperature, sunlight, particulate matter <2.5 μm, and ozone. A case-crossover design was used to examine same-day and 7-day cumulative lag effects on suicide. Analyses were stratified by age group, gender, and educational level. RESULTS: In general, associations were null between aeroallergens and suicide. Stratified analyses revealed a relationship between grass pollen and same-day suicide for women (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 1.44, 10.22) and those with a high school degree or less (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.18, 3.49). CONCLUSIONS: While aeroallergens were generally not significantly related to suicide in this sample, these findings provide suggestive evidence for an acute relationship of grass pollen with suicide for women and those with lower education levels. Further research is warranted to determine whether susceptibility to speciated aeroallergens may be driven by underlying biological mechanisms or variation in exposure levels.
Authors: Rongbin Xu; Qi Zhao; Micheline S Z S Coelho; Paulo H N Saldiva; Sophia Zoungas; Rachel R Huxley; Michael J Abramson; Yuming Guo; Shanshan Li Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2019-11-20 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Rongbin Xu; Qi Zhao; Micheline S Z S Coelho; Paulo H N Saldiva; Michael J Abramson; Shanshan Li; Yuming Guo Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2019-10-29 Impact factor: 11.069