Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan
Abstract Background Japan has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates, while the annual suicide rate in 2020 has risen for the first time since 2007. This study aimed to identify high-risk populations and assess the impact of medical visits on suicide trends post-COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Method Th...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02707-2 |
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| author | Daisuke Miyamori Yasushi Nagasaki Shuhei Yoshida Saori Kashima Wataru Omori Kei Itagaki Masanori Ito |
| author_facet | Daisuke Miyamori Yasushi Nagasaki Shuhei Yoshida Saori Kashima Wataru Omori Kei Itagaki Masanori Ito |
| author_sort | Daisuke Miyamori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Japan has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates, while the annual suicide rate in 2020 has risen for the first time since 2007. This study aimed to identify high-risk populations and assess the impact of medical visits on suicide trends post-COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Method This quasi-experimental study analyzed a population-based database from Hyogo Prefecture (2012–2022). Interrupted time-series analyses identified level and trend changes in monthly suicide rates per 1 million population during the exposure period (2020–2022) versus the control period (2012–2019). Regular visits to primary care and psychiatry stratified analysis. Results 2181 cases were analyzed, with two-thirds male and a median age of 54. Primary care physicians and psychiatric history were present in 69% and 40% of patients. The study found significant level changes in suicide rates overall (4.14, 95% CI: 1.70, 6.58) among individuals without regular primary care physician visits (2.83, 95% CI: 1.35, 4.32) and without psychiatric visits (2.85, 95% CI: 0.56, 5.14). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in individuals with regular primary care (0.99, 95% CI: -0.78, 2.76) or regular psychiatric visits (0.59, 95% CI: -0.98, 2.16). The trend changes were not significant in any of the groups. Conclusion This study suggests that a history of attending a medical institution may have prevented the rapid increase in suicides during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ef46bd12680c4d428c37d2dc3b456c33 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-ef46bd12680c4d428c37d2dc3b456c332025-01-26T12:45:53ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532025-01-012611810.1186/s12875-025-02707-2Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, JapanDaisuke Miyamori0Yasushi Nagasaki1Shuhei Yoshida2Saori Kashima3Wataru Omori4Kei Itagaki5Masanori Ito6Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University HospitalHyogo Medical Examiner’s OfficeDepartment of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University HospitalGraduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima UniversityDepartment of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University HospitalAbstract Background Japan has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates, while the annual suicide rate in 2020 has risen for the first time since 2007. This study aimed to identify high-risk populations and assess the impact of medical visits on suicide trends post-COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Method This quasi-experimental study analyzed a population-based database from Hyogo Prefecture (2012–2022). Interrupted time-series analyses identified level and trend changes in monthly suicide rates per 1 million population during the exposure period (2020–2022) versus the control period (2012–2019). Regular visits to primary care and psychiatry stratified analysis. Results 2181 cases were analyzed, with two-thirds male and a median age of 54. Primary care physicians and psychiatric history were present in 69% and 40% of patients. The study found significant level changes in suicide rates overall (4.14, 95% CI: 1.70, 6.58) among individuals without regular primary care physician visits (2.83, 95% CI: 1.35, 4.32) and without psychiatric visits (2.85, 95% CI: 0.56, 5.14). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in individuals with regular primary care (0.99, 95% CI: -0.78, 2.76) or regular psychiatric visits (0.59, 95% CI: -0.98, 2.16). The trend changes were not significant in any of the groups. Conclusion This study suggests that a history of attending a medical institution may have prevented the rapid increase in suicides during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02707-2SuicideCOVID-19JapanAdolescentPrimary carePsychiatric department |
| spellingShingle | Daisuke Miyamori Yasushi Nagasaki Shuhei Yoshida Saori Kashima Wataru Omori Kei Itagaki Masanori Ito Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan BMC Primary Care Suicide COVID-19 Japan Adolescent Primary care Psychiatric department |
| title | Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan |
| title_full | Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan |
| title_fullStr | Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan |
| title_short | Role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Kobe, Japan |
| title_sort | role of regular medical visits in mitigating increased suicide risk during the early covid 19 pandemic in kobe japan |
| topic | Suicide COVID-19 Japan Adolescent Primary care Psychiatric department |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02707-2 |
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