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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Assessing survival in widowers, and controls -A nationwide, six- to nine-year follow-up

Authors: Bragi Skulason, Lilja Sigrun Jonsdottir, Valgerdur Sigurdardottir, Asgeir R Helgason

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to assess if widowers had an increased mortality rate during the first 6 to 9 years after the death of their wife, compared initially to an age-matched control group and also compared to the general population of Iceland.

Methods

The study base was comprised of all 371 men born in 1924-1969 who were widowed in Iceland in 1999-2001 and 357 controls, married men, who were matched by age and residence.
The widowers and controls were followed through the years 2002-2007 using information from Statistics Iceland. Mortality rates were compared between the groups and also with the general population. The mortality rate comparisons were: study group vs. control group, on the one hand, and study group vs. general population on the other. Causes of death were also compared between widowers and their wives.

Results

A statistically significant increase in mortality in the widowers' group, compared to controls, was observed.
Lifestyle-related factors could not be excluded as contributing to cause of death in these cases.

Conclusions

Being a widower was related to an increased risk of death for at least 9 years after the death of their wife.
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Metadata
Title
Assessing survival in widowers, and controls -A nationwide, six- to nine-year follow-up
Authors
Bragi Skulason
Lilja Sigrun Jonsdottir
Valgerdur Sigurdardottir
Asgeir R Helgason
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-96

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