Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Case studies have linked SARS-CoV-2 infection to suicidal behaviour. However, conclusive evidence is lacking.</p> <p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine whether a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or SARS-CoV-2-r...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Journal article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2023
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_version_ | 1797110167644405760 |
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author | Erlangsen, A Qin, P Madsen, T Hawton, K Hjorthøj, C Molbak, K Laursen, TM Nordentoft, M Nilsson, SF |
author_facet | Erlangsen, A Qin, P Madsen, T Hawton, K Hjorthøj, C Molbak, K Laursen, TM Nordentoft, M Nilsson, SF |
author_sort | Erlangsen, A |
collection | OXFORD |
description | <p><strong>Background: </strong>Case studies have linked SARS-CoV-2 infection to suicidal behaviour. However, conclusive evidence is lacking.</p>
<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine whether a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission was associated with self-harm in the general population and in high-risk groups.</p>
<p><strong>Method: </strong>A cohort design was applied to nationwide data on all people aged ≥15 years and living in Denmark between 27 February 2020 and 15 October 2021. Exposure was identified as having had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, and further assessed as SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission. Rates of probable self-harm were examined using adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). The following subgroups were identified: (a) lower educational level, (b) chronic medical conditions, (c) disability pension, (d) mental disorders, (e) substance use disorders, and history of (f) homelessness and (g) imprisonment.</p>
<p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 4 412 248 included individuals, 260 663 (5.9%) had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Out of 5453 individuals presenting with self-harm, 131 (2.4%) had been infected. Individuals with a history of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result had an aIRR for self-harm of 0.86 (95% CI 0.72–1.03) compared with those without. High rates were found after a SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission (aIRR = 7.68; 95% CI 5.61–10.51) or a non-SARS-CoV-2-related admission (aIRR = 10.27; 95% CI 9.65–10.93) versus non-infected and not admitted. In sensitivity analyses with a more restrictive definition of self-harm, a positive PCR test was associated with lower rates of self-harm.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Individuals with a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection did not have higher rates of self-harm than those without. Hospital admission in general, rather than being SARS-CoV-2 positive. seemed to be linked to elevated rates of self-harm.</p> |
first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:51:02Z |
format | Journal article |
id | oxford-uuid:5ff2017c-f971-402e-8741-961aa6a8f54b |
institution | University of Oxford |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:51:02Z |
publishDate | 2023 |
publisher | Cambridge University Press |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oxford-uuid:5ff2017c-f971-402e-8741-961aa6a8f54b2023-07-13T08:47:06ZAssociation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:5ff2017c-f971-402e-8741-961aa6a8f54bEnglishSymplectic ElementsCambridge University Press2023Erlangsen, AQin, PMadsen, THawton, KHjorthøj, CMolbak, KLaursen, TMNordentoft, MNilsson, SF<p><strong>Background: </strong>Case studies have linked SARS-CoV-2 infection to suicidal behaviour. However, conclusive evidence is lacking.</p> <p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine whether a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission was associated with self-harm in the general population and in high-risk groups.</p> <p><strong>Method: </strong>A cohort design was applied to nationwide data on all people aged ≥15 years and living in Denmark between 27 February 2020 and 15 October 2021. Exposure was identified as having had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, and further assessed as SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission. Rates of probable self-harm were examined using adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). The following subgroups were identified: (a) lower educational level, (b) chronic medical conditions, (c) disability pension, (d) mental disorders, (e) substance use disorders, and history of (f) homelessness and (g) imprisonment.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 4 412 248 included individuals, 260 663 (5.9%) had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Out of 5453 individuals presenting with self-harm, 131 (2.4%) had been infected. Individuals with a history of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result had an aIRR for self-harm of 0.86 (95% CI 0.72–1.03) compared with those without. High rates were found after a SARS-CoV-2-related hospital admission (aIRR = 7.68; 95% CI 5.61–10.51) or a non-SARS-CoV-2-related admission (aIRR = 10.27; 95% CI 9.65–10.93) versus non-infected and not admitted. In sensitivity analyses with a more restrictive definition of self-harm, a positive PCR test was associated with lower rates of self-harm.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Individuals with a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection did not have higher rates of self-harm than those without. Hospital admission in general, rather than being SARS-CoV-2 positive. seemed to be linked to elevated rates of self-harm.</p> |
spellingShingle | Erlangsen, A Qin, P Madsen, T Hawton, K Hjorthøj, C Molbak, K Laursen, TM Nordentoft, M Nilsson, SF Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title | Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title_full | Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title_fullStr | Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title_full_unstemmed | Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title_short | Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and self-harm: Danish nationwide register-based cohort study |
title_sort | association between sars cov 2 infection and self harm danish nationwide register based cohort study |
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