Colorectal Cancer and the Risk of Mortality Among Individuals with Suicidal Ideation

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Oncology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Suicide is a growing public health concern.
• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
• The impact of suicidal ideation (SI) on CRC mortality risk is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between suicidal ideation (SI) and mortality risk in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.
• To investigate the prevalence of frequent SI among individuals with and without CRC.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Determined CRC survivorship via self-report and mortality through linkage with the National Death Index.
• Assessed suicidal ideation (SI) using a specific survey question.

Main Results:

• Individuals with SI exhibited a higher mortality rate (12.3% vs. 7.5%).
• CRC patients had a significantly higher rate of frequent SI (2.4% vs. 0.6%).
• The adjusted hazard ratio for mortality was significantly elevated (HR=5.4) for individuals with both CRC and SI, compared to CRC alone (HR≈1.0).

Conclusions:

• The combination of SI and CRC is associated with worse mortality outcomes than CRC alone.
• Individuals with CRC are more prone to frequent SI.
• Integrated care addressing both physical and mental health is crucial for patients with chronic diseases.