International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 28, 456-460, Copyright © 1999 by International Epidemiological Association
K Juel, J Mosbech and ES Hansen
BACKGROUND: To examine the mortality pattern of Danish doctors for the
period 1973-1992. METHODS: A historical prospective cohort study based on
the membership register of the Danish Medical Association. The study
population consisted of 21,943 medical doctors, 6012 of whom were women.
The doctors' cause-specific mortality was compared with that of the general
population. RESULTS: The study covered about 277,000 person- years. A total
of 2387 deaths occurred from 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1992. The
doctors' mortality was lower than that of the general population. Both
sexes showed a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) below one for cancer,
circulatory diseases and other natural causes. Mortality due to lung cancer
was particularly low. The SMR for suicide was significantly increased, 1.6
for males (95% CI: 1.4-1.9) and 1.7 for females (95% CI: 1.1-2.5). The
suicide rate was increased, in particular because of an increased number of
suicides by poisoning. In addition female doctors displayed a relatively
high mortality due to accidents and other types of violent death.
CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the general population the doctors' mortality
was low, but the mortality from external causes was increased, mainly due
to an excess number of suicides.
ARTICLES
Mortality and causes of death among Danish medical doctors 1973-1992
Danish Institute for Clinical Epidemiology, Copenhagen, Denmark. kj@dike.dk
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