Citation

Bando DH, Teng CT, Volpe FM, Masi E, Pereira LA, Braga AL. Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr. 2017; 39(3): 220-227.

Affiliation

Grupo de Avaliação de Exposição e Risco Ambiental, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Católica de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Associacao Brasileira de Psiquiatria)

DOI

10.1590/1516-4446-2016-2057

PMID

28423068

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: Considering the scarcity of reports from intertropical latitudes and the Southern Hemisphere, we aimed to examine the association between meteorological factors and suicide in São Paulo.

METHOD:: Weekly suicide records stratified by sex were gathered. Weekly averages for minimum, mean, and maximum temperature (°C), insolation (hours), irradiation (MJ/m2), relative humidity (%), atmospheric pressure (mmHg), and rainfall (mm) were computed. The time structures of explanatory variables were modeled by polynomial distributed lag applied to the generalized additive model. The model controlled for long-term trends and selected meteorological factors.

RESULTS:: The total number of suicides was 6,600 (5,073 for men), an average of 6.7 suicides per week (8.7 for men and 2.0 for women). For overall suicides and among men, effects were predominantly acute and statistically significant only at lag 0. Weekly average minimum temperature had the greatest effect on suicide; there was a 2.28% increase (95%CI 0.90-3.69) in total suicides and a 2.37% increase (95%CI 0.82-3.96) among male suicides with each 1 °C increase.

CONCLUSION:: This study suggests that an increase in weekly average minimum temperature has a short-term effect on suicide in São Paulo.

Language: en