Characteristics of Older Adults Attending the Emergency Department for Suicidal Thoughts or Voluntary Intoxication: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective The objective of this article is to explore the characteristics of older adults visiting the ED for suicidal thoughts and/or voluntary intoxication. Methods All older adults (65 years or older) who visited one of the five University Hospital Center (CHU) of Quebec EDs in 2016 and who reported suicidal thoughts or intoxication in triage or received a relevant discharge diagnosis were included. Results A total of 478 ED visits were identified, of which 332 ED visits (n=279 patients) were included. The mean age was 72.6 (standard deviation 6.8) years old and 41.6% were female. Mood disorders (41.2%) and alcoholism (40.5%) were common. Nearly 30% of all ED visits (n=109) resulted in a referral for a mental health assessment. In the subsequent year (2017), 38.4% returned to the ED for suicidal ideations. There were 7.9% who attended the ED five times or more. Conclusions ED visits for suicidal thoughts and intoxication in older adults are common among men with known mood disorders or alcoholism. ED dispositions are variable, and access to a mental health assessment is not consistent.