The Gender Distribution and Association between Sociodemographic Factors and Hospital-Presenting Self-Injury: Analysis from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey.

Abstract

Objective: Research gaps persist in understanding the underlying sociodemographic patterning of hospital-presenting self-injury (HPSI) in South Korea. Our research aims to understand the relationship between HPSI and gender over time in relation to its sociodemographic attributes.

Method: The study utilized the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIS) from 2004 to 2021. The change in the age-standardized rate per 100,000 Koreans over age groups and their gender distribution was examined. Logistic regression models were employed to understand the association between gender and HPSI.

Results: The study encompassed 497,882 injury patients, with 13,139 HPSI patients. The age-standardized rate per 100,000 was similar across years, and significantly higher in older age groups over 70. Also, the HPSI rate was higher in women (43.01, 95% CI: 40-46.08) than in men (36.65, 95% CI: 34.03-39.28). This gender pattern was consistent across years but showed an opposite trend over age 50, where men experience more HPSI. Gender gaps showed a decreasing trend over time, except for the 2019-2021 period in which HPSI rates rose disproportionately among adolescent girls and elderly men. Regression models confirmed these patterns, where the odds ratio of women on HPSI was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.46-2.16) in the fully adjusted model, it was 4.33 (95% CI: 3.64-5.14) in age group ≤20 and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.34-0.44) in age group >80.

Conclusions: The gender pattern of HPSI varies significantly by age group. Further research is imperative to delve into the root causes of these differences.