Harper, M., O'Connor, R. C. and O'Carroll, R. E. (2011) Increased mortality in parents bereaved in the first year of their child's life. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 1(3), pp. 306-309. (doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2011-000025)
Full text not currently available from Enlighten.
Abstract
Objective: To identify the relative risk (RR) of mortality in bereaved parents compared with non-bereaved counterparts.<p></p> Design: Retrospective data linkage study. <p></p> Setting: United Kingdom, 1971–2006. <p></p> Participants: A random sample from death registrations (5%) of parents who had a live birth where the infant lived beyond its first year of life (non-bereaved parents) and parents who had experienced a stillbirth or the death of a child in its first year of life (bereaved parents) between 1971 and 2006.<p></p> Main outcome measures: Death or widowhood of the parent.<p></p> Results Bereaved parents in Scotland (n=738) were more than twice as likely to die in the first 15 years after their child's death than non-bereaved parents (n=50 132), p<0.005. Bereaved mothers in England and Wales (n=481) were more than four times as likely to die in the first 15 years after their child's birth than non-bereaved parents (n=30 956), p<0.001. The mortality risk for bereaved mothers compared with non-bereaved mothers, followed up for 25 years after death, was 1.5 (bereaved n=745, non-bereaved n=36 434), p<0.005. When followed up for 35 years, the risk of mortality for bereaved mothers (n=1120) was 1.2 times that of non-bereaved mothers (n=36 062), p<0.005. Conclusions: Bereaved parents who experience stillbirth or infant death have markedly increased mortality compared with non-bereaved parents, up to 25 years (mean) after the death of their child. However, the RR reduces over time.
Item Type: | Articles |
---|---|
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | O'Connor, Professor Rory and O'Carroll, Prof Ronan |
Authors: | Harper, M., O'Connor, R. C., and O'Carroll, R. E. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing |
Journal Name: | BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care |
Publisher: | BMJ Publishing Group |
ISSN: | 2045-435X |
ISSN (Online): | 2045-4368 |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record