New Study Links Visual Impairment to Increased Suicide Risk

Researchers at Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea, led by Chung Young Kim, M.D., have conducted a comprehensive study exploring the link between visual impairment and various aspects of suicide, including behavior, ideation, and death. The study aggregated data from 31 population-based studies, encompassing a total of 5,692,769 individuals.

The findings revealed a significant association between visual impairment and increased risk of suicide. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for suicidal behavior in 17 studies involving 5,602,285 individuals was 2.49. For suicidal ideation, assessed in 21 studies with 611,899 individuals, the OR was 2.01. The association between visual impairment and suicide deaths, analyzed in eight studies with 5,067,113 individuals, resulted in an OR of 1.89.

The study also highlighted age as a critical factor, with adolescents showing the highest risk among different age groups. The research noted moderate heterogeneity in the data concerning suicide deaths, whereas high heterogeneity was observed in studies related to suicidal behavior and ideation.

The authors emphasized the crucial link between eye health and mental well-being. They recommended that healthcare providers be particularly vigilant about the elevated suicide risk associated with visual impairment, especially in adolescents, and advocated for the implementation of targeted suicide prevention measures when necessary.

Reference

Chung Young Kim et al, Visual Impairment and Suicide Risk, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.7026