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Exploring the role of serum lipid profile and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in violent suicide attempters: a cross sectional study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2020

Enrico Capuzzi*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
Alice Caldiroli
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy
Martina Capellazzi
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza (MB), Italy
Ilaria Tagliabue
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza (MB), Italy
Annamaria Auxilia
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza (MB), Italy
Giulia Ghilardi
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza (MB), Italy
Massimiliano Buoli
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza, Milan, Italy Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Massimo Clerici
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Department, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Monza, Monza, Italy Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza (MB), Italy
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr. Enrico Capuzzi, PhD, Email: e.capuzzi1@campus.unimib.it

Abstract

Background

Suicidality is one of the most common complications of mental disorders, so that the identification of potential biomarkers may be relevant in clinical practice. To date, the role of serum lipids and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been explored albeit with conflicting results. To the best of our knowledge, no study has explored lipid levels concomitantly with NLR in relation to violent suicide attempts. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether serum lipid levels and NLR might be associated with the violent method of suicide attempts.

Methods

The study group consisted of 163 inpatients who attempted suicide. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of hospitalization to measure total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides, and NLR. Descriptive analyses of the total sample were performed. The included patients were divided into two groups according to violent/nonviolent method. Groups were compared in terms of lipid (MANCOVAs).

Results

Plasma levels of total cholesterol (F = 5.66; P = .02), LDL (F = 4.94; P = .03), VLDL (F = 5.66; P = .02), and NLR (F = 8.17; P < .01) resulted to be significantly lower in patients that used a violent method compared to patients who attempted suicide with a nonviolent method.

Conclusions

Low cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL levels as well as low NLR value were associated with a violent method of suicide attempt in patients with mental disorders. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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