Table 4.
Number of deaths from suicide and associated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in current and former users of β-adrenoceptor blockers only, by degree of lipid solubility of the drug.
β-adrenoceptor blockers only | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present and former use | Present use | Former use | |||||
Degree of lipid solubility | Number observed | Number expected | SMR (95% CI) | Number observed | SMR (95% CI) | Number observed | SMR (95% CI) |
Low* | 7 | 7.8 | 0.9 (0.4, 1.9) | 4 | 0.6 (0.2, 1.6) | 3 | 2.0 (0.4, 5.7) |
Medium1 | 11 | 7.1 | 1.6 (0.8, 2.8) | 8 | 1.4 (0.6, 2.7) | 3 | 2.3 (0.5, 67) |
High2 | 22 | 8.0 | 2.7 (1.7, 4.1) | 12 | 2.2 (1.1, 3.9) | 10 | 3.8 (1.8, 7.0) |
Chi square test for trend, P value: | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.62 |
Low group: atenolol; sotalol.
Medium group: metoprolol; pindolol; acebutolol; oxprenolol; timolol; Viskaldix; bisprolol; bevantolol.
High group: propranolol; betaxolol; alprenolol; penbutolol.
Person-years at risk among present users were categorized according to the type of β-adrenoceptor blocker prescribed, and those among former users in accordance with the type of the last β-adrenoceptor blocker prescribed.