TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Investigation of the association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality in Hungary
JO  - Journal of affective disorders
A1  - Izsak, Balint
A1  - Hidvégi, Anna
A1  - Balint, Lajos
A1  - Malnasi, Tibor
A1  - Vargha, Márta
A1  - Pandics, Tamas
A1  - Rihmer, Zoltan
A1  - Döme, Peter
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: In recent decades, a series of ecological studies from various countries have attempted to reveal whether there is an association between trace amounts of lithium in drinking water and suicide mortality. With some notable exceptions, results have indicated that there is an inverse association between these two variables. Since Hungary had extremely high rates of suicide with a persistent spatial pattern, we consider that our country is ideal to investigate this research question. <br><br>METHODS: We carried out our research on Hungarian data at the level of districts (n = 197). The dependent variable was the age- and gender-standardized mortality ratio for suicide (sSMR). Our main explanatory variable was the tap water lithium level (Li) from public drinking water supply systems using their own water source (n = 1 325). Those data, which give full national coverage, were aggregated to the level of districts. Confounding factors were religiosity, alcohol consumption and income. Various regression models were used for statistical calculations. <br><br>RESULTS: Findings from our most appropriate regression model - adjusted for relevant confounding variables and able to handle spatial autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity - suggest a significant (p < 0.05) and a trend-like (p < 0.1) negative association between Li and sSMR in the total population and among males, respectively. However, such an association was not found between these two variables among females. <br><br>CONCLUSION: In line with the majority of findings from other countries, our results indicate that the intake of lithium with drinking water may have a gender-dependent suicide-protective effect.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0165-0327
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.11.041
ID  - ref1
ER  -