Hospitalization, Underweight, Depression, and Cancer Increase the Risk of Suicide in Individuals With Bronchiectasis

Abstract

Bronchiectasis is commonly comorbid with depression and anxiety; therefore, bronchiectasis may be associated with an increased risk of suicide. We aimed to investigate whether suicidal risk is higher in individuals with bronchiectasis. We enrolled 3,903,636 individuals, including 50,975 individuals with bronchiectasis, from the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset. Suicidal risk was significantly higher in individuals with bronchiectasis than in those without (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.44). The increased risk of suicide was more evident in individuals with bronchiectasis who experienced hospitalization (aHR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.32-3.77) and when they were underweight (aHR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.78-3.96), diagnosed with depression (aHR, 3.35; 95% CI, 2.47-4.56) or cancer (aHR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.18-3.66). In conclusion, bronchiectasis was associated with an increased risk of suicide, which was further heightened in individuals who experienced hospitalization or were underweight or had depression or cancer.