Suicide, cancer, and other causes of death among California veterinarians, 1960-1992.

Previous studies reporting on mortality patterns in veterinarians have been restricted to deaths among white male veterinarians. In an effort to examine the mortality of male and female veterinarians of all races, we conducted a standardized proportionate mortality ratio (SPMR) analysis of 450 California veterinarians who died between January 1960 and December 1992. In comparison to State of California general population statistics, white male veterinarians had significantly elevated mortality from malignant melanoma of the skin (SPMR 3.47, 95% CI 1.74, 6.94), cancer of the large intestine (SPMR 1.74, 95% CI 1.04, 2.09), rheumatic heart disease (SPMR 3.50, 95% CI 1.90, 6.43), and suicide (SPMR 2.50, 95% CI 1.84, 3.38). White female veterinarians had significantly elevated mortality from suicide (SPMR 5.89, 95% CI 3.02, 11.48). We also examined veterinary mortality for different lengths of time in the profession. Significantly elevated SPMRs were noted for suicide in veterinarians in the profession for less than 30 years; deaths due to malignant melanoma of the skin and rheumatic heart disease in veterinarians in the profession 20 years or more; and cancer of the large intestine in veterinarians in the profession 30 years or more. Because of significant findings in mortality from suicide among veterinarians of both sexes, it was recommended that future studies and efforts toward suicide prevention include both male and female veterinarians.