We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The Effect of Unexpected Bereavement on Mortality in Older Couples.
- Authors
Shah, Sunil M.; Carey, Iain M.; Harris, Tess; DeWilde, Stephen; Victor, Christina R.; Cook, Derek G.
- Abstract
Objectives. We sought to determine whether unexpected bereavement has a greater impact on mortality in the surviving partner than death of a partner with preexisting chronic disease or disability. Methods. In a UK primary care database (The Health Improvement Network), we identified 171 720 couples aged 60 years and older. We compared the rise in mortality in the first year after bereavement in those whose partner died without recorded chronic disease (unexpected bereavement) to those whose deceased partner had a diagnosis of chronic disease (known morbidity). Results. For unexpected bereavement (13.4% of all bereavements), the adjusted hazard ratio for death in the first year after bereavement was 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39, 1.86) compared with 1.21 (95% CI = 1.14, 1.30) where the partner had known morbidity. Differences between bereaved groups were significant (P = .001) and present for both men and women. Conclusions. Unexpected bereavement has a greater relative mortality impact than bereavement preceded by chronic disease. Our findings highlight the potential value of preparing individuals for the death of a spouse with known morbidity and providing extra support after bereavement for those experiencing sudden unexpected bereavement.
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; MORTALITY risk factors; BEREAVEMENT; CHRONIC diseases; CONFIDENCE intervals; PRIMARY health care; RESEARCH funding; SPOUSES; SUDDEN death; TIME; PREDICTIVE validity; PROPORTIONAL hazards models; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
American Journal of Public Health, 2013, Vol 103, Issue 6, p1140
- ISSN
0090-0036
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2012.301050