Hedegaard · NCHS data brief 2021 · population-based mortality trend study · n=?

Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999-2019.

Cited 423 times in the scientific literature.

Level 4 - case-series / case-control

Descriptive population-based mortality surveillance using national vital statistics registry data.

PubMed 33663651 · record verified 2026-08-29

What was done

The study analyzed final mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System to evaluate trends in United States suicide rates from 1999 through 2019, examining differences by sex, age group, and means of suicide.

What was found

In 2019, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States, the 2nd leading cause for ages 10-34, and the 4th leading cause for ages 35-54. The abstract notes a steady increase in suicide rates over the past two decades but reports no specific numerical rates, percent changes, or detailed statistics for demographic subgroups or methods.

Why it matters

This report updates national surveillance benchmarks on US suicide mortality and premature death over a 20-year period.

Limits

The abstract provides no specific numerical rates, sample sizes, or confidence intervals. As a descriptive vital statistics study, it is subject to potential death certificate misclassification and lacks individual-level clinical or socioeconomic data.

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