Factors Associated With the Severity of Suicide Attempts by Poisoning in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective

To analyze factors associated with more severe outcomes of suicide attempt due to toxicological events in adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age treated due to attempted suicide from 2017 to 2020. The dependent variable was the final severity, divided into two categories: asymptomatic or mild and moderate, severe or fatal, and the independent variables were those related to patients, exposure, and clinical conditions. For association analyses, logistic regression was used, with the calculation of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

A total of 1462 suicide attempts in adolescents were evaluated, and 21.1% (N = 306) were classified moderate, severe or fatal outcome. Suicide attempts due to toxicological events in adolescents showed a higher prevalence of the moderate, severe or fatal outcome in males (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.11–2.07), in the summer months (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.31–2.48) and in cases whose time until attendance was equal to or greater than 300 min (OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.29–2.29), with evidence of increasing severity of cases over the years (2019: OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.21–2.98; 2020: OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.31–2.48).

Conclusions

Since adolescents need a more rigorous psychosocial follow-up due to the adversities inherent to the age group, there is a clear need for better identification of striking prodromal signs of suicide attempts in order to develop therapeutic interventions and preventive strategies.