Trends in suicide in the elderly in Asturias (Spain)

Data from elderly suicides was obtained from two previous studies of community suicides in two localities of Northern Spain, namely, Oviedo between 1983 and 1990, and Gijón between 1975 and 1986. Data from the two localities were obtained by the revision of court register cases. A retrospective study on elderly suicide (over 60 years of age) was carried out. Mean annual specific rates for the elderly in Oviedo for 1982-1991 were 37.7 (58.1 for men and 23.3 for women) and for those in Gijón for the period 1975-1986, 23.4 (40 for men and 11.5 for women). A marked increase was seen in the rates for Gijón from the first (1975-1978) to the last period (1983-1986). This was particularly marked in men. The greatest increase in the rate was seen in men over 75 from Gijón and in those between 1970-1974 from Oviedo. In contrast a decrease was seen in the 65-69 age group rates for both men and women. A tendency for the rates to increase was seen but no important increase for elderly suicides was evident.