subject: Suicide Risk Increases With High Altitude--study [print this page] A startling new study published in the journal 'High Altitude Medicine & Biology' has found a strong correlation between living at higher altitudes and the suicide rates across the country.
"The article describes a new, unexpected finding of a link between suicide rate and altitude of residence. The cause is obscure as yet," said John B. West, editor in chief of the journal and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
An analysis of the cause of death statistics from all 2,584 U.S. counties between 1979 and 1998 revealed that people living at higher elevations had a significantly higher rate of suicide.
Analysis of data
In order to determine whether altitude is actually the strongest predictor of increase in suicide rate, researchers from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Pittsburgh Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital conducted a study.
An analysis of the cause of death statistics from all 2,584 U.S. counties between 1979 and 1998 revealed that people living at higher elevations had a significantly higher rate of suicide.
It was noted that during that time period, from the 42,868,100 total deaths that had occurred, 596,704 were suicidal cases.
The study found that average altitude of the 50 counties with the highest suicide rates was 4,684 feet, while that of 50 counties with the lowest suicide rates was 582 feet.
However, though suicide was rampant in mountainous regions, the investigators discovered the rate of general death was lower at higher elevations.
The strong association between altitude and suicide persisted even after taking into account known suicide risk factors such as older age, male gender, white race and low income.
The researchers stated, Prior reports of increased suicides in the U.S. Mountain Region (e.g., Colorado) have prompted speculation that the excess is owing to greater access to rearms, increased isolation, or reduced income.
Even after controlling for these variables in our analysis, the positive correlation between altitude and suicide still exists, which suggests that the increased suicide rate in the regions with greatest altitude, such as the Mountain Region, may be owing to, at least in part, its altitude per se.
Some possible theories
Although the co-relation between suicide risk and high altitude is ambiguous, researchers theorize that hypoxia, or inadequate oxygen intake may be a contributory factor.
According to experts, extended stay in a state of hypoxia is known to cause mild damage to the brain which can trigger depression.
However, the study authors feel there is need for further research to substantiate the findings.
They concluded, "This mechanistic search might help clinicians to identify individuals at high altitude who may be amenable to relocation to lower altitude areas, oxygen therapy, or special monitoring and intervention."
