- FRIDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) — People with asthma may be at
increased risk for suicidal thoughts with attempted suicide, but not for
suicidal thoughts without suicide attempts, according to a U.S. study.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in
Baltimore analyzed data on 5,692 people, aged 18 and older, from the U.S.
National Comorbidity Survey Replication.

They found that about 12 percent had a history of asthma. Estimates of
lifetime prevalence for suicidal thoughts and attempts without and with
asthma were 8.7 percent, 4.2 percent and 12 percent, respectively, and
occurred more frequently in women than in men.

Cigarette smoking and concurrent mental health conditions may
independently account for a large part, but not all, of the association
between asthma and suicidal thoughts with attempts, said the study
authors.

After they adjusted for cigarette smoking, concurrent mental health
conditions and common sociodemographic factors, they found there was still
a significant association between asthma and suicide thoughts and
attempts.

“Researchers have speculated that the relationship between asthma and
suicidal behaviors is possibly because of ensuring mood and anxiety that
results from disability and discomfort associated with asthma, which can
be a lifelong disease,” the study authors wrote. “Individuals might have
frequent thoughts of death with increasing severity solely because they
have a potentially life-threatening illness.”

The findings suggest that people with asthma who express suicidal
thoughts should be referred to mental health services.

The study was published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about asthma.