Alcohol use and risk of suicide: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Alcohol use has several consequences and is one of the variables that increase risk of suicide. This meta-analysis was performed using cohort studies to clarify the association of alcohol use and suicide.

Method: Scientific sources were reviewed regarding the keywords. After screening, thirty cohort studies were identified for the meta-analysis. The analysis was performed based on the random effects and subsequent analysis of the subgroups, based on various variables.

Result: Analysis of the results showed that there is a relationship between alcohol use and suicide. Risk Ratio (RR) between alcohol use and suicide was 1.65. In men, pooled RR was 1.56 with 95% CI = 1.20–2.03, and in women, the pooled RR was equal to 1.40 with 95% CI = 1.11–1.77.

Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that alcohol use is a risk factor for suicide. Therefore, it seems that prevention and control of alcohol use can be effective in promoting mental health.

Keywords:

• Alcohol use
• meta-analysis
• suicide
• systematic review

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study did not receive any funding. No human participants and/or animals were involved in this study.