Space-time analysis of suicide deaths from cancer patients in Taiwan (1995-2007)

Comparing to Western countries, Taiwan has a higher suicide rate among cancer patients. This study use spatial analysis to understand the distribution pattern of suicide death among cancer patients in Taiwan. The 1995-2007 Cancer Registry Data and Mortality Data from the central government is used. We first used logistic regressions to examine the association of gender, age, type of cancer with the chance of suicide death. Space-time analysis by using Sat Scan statistics is used. The results show that men aged 40-64 years old with cancers that can change appearance are at highest risk of suicide death, and this pattern shows trend of increase with time. Cancer patients with good prognosis, the likelihood of suicide death within short period of time (1-3 months) after diagnosis is significantly lower than those with challenging prognosis. Significant time and space interaction effect is found. The hot spots of suicide are formed between 1999 and 2003, particularly at 2002. The areas mainly include southern part of Taiwan in which the prevalence of smoking and betel nut chewing are particularly high. Future local studies are warranted.