Older adults with suicidal tendencies are more likely than their younger counterparts to be hospitalized, new data from the government indicates.
Nearly three-fourths of elderly adults with self-inflicted injuries end up being hospitalized compared with just 43% of adults between 20 and 34 years of age. The figure also compares with 56% of those age 50 to 64 years, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance All Injury Program.
The data is significant because the older adult population is the nation’s fastest growing age group and the number of self-inflicted injuries in this group is likely to increase, researchers reported. The figures were reported in the latest edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
