Suicide mortality according to occupation and method of suicide, Massachusetts, 2010-2019.

BACKGROUND: Suicide rates in the United States have been increasing. Work-related factors may contribute to risk for suicide. These work-related factors may be reflected in a varied risk for different suicide methods between occupations. This study sought to assess occupational differences in suicide rates according to the method used. METHODS: Death certificate data about suicide deaths in Massachusetts between 2010 and 2019 were used to calculate mortality rates and rate ratios with univariable and multivariable models controlling for age, sex, race ethnicity, and educational attainment for suicides overall, and for three specific methods of suicide (hanging/strangulation/suffocation, firearms, and poisoning) by occupation. RESULTS: In multivariate models, the risk for suicide was significantly elevated for workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (relative risk [RR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53, 2.22); construction trades (RR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.53, 1.84); protective services (RR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26, 1.77); and healthcare support occupations (RR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.25, 1.93). Occupational risk for suicide differed across different methods. For hanging/strangulation/suffocation, workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations had the highest RR (2.09, 95% CI = 1.61, 2.71). For firearms, workers in protective service occupations had the highest RR (4.20, 95% CI = 3.30, 5.34). For poisoning, workers in life, physical, and social science occupations had the highest RR (2.32, 95% CI = 1.49, 3.60). CONCLUSIONS: These findings are useful for identifying vulnerable working populations for suicide. Additionally, some of the occupational differences in the risk for suicide and for specific methods of suicide may be due to workplace factors. Further research is needed to understand these workplace factors so that interventions can be designed for prevention.

Understanding Myocardial Metabolism in the Context of Cardio-Oncology.

Cardiovascular events, ranging from arrhythmias to decompensated heart failure, are common during and after cancer therapy. Cardiovascular complications can be life-threatening, and from the oncologist's perspective, could limit the use of first-line cancer therapeutics. Moreover, an aging population increases the risk for comorbidities and medical complexity among patients who undergo cancer therapy. Many have established cardiovascular diagnoses or risk factors before starting these therapies. Therefore, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive cardiovascular events in patients with cancer and to identify new therapeutic targets that may prevent and treat these 2 diseases. This review will discuss the metabolic interaction between cancer and the heart and will highlight current strategies of targeting metabolic pathways for cancer treatment. Finally, this review highlights opportunities and challenges in advancing our understanding of myocardial metabolism in the context of cancer and cancer treatment.