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Original Article
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Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(6):1114-1125. Published online November 1, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.371
- Metabolic syndrome and risk of suicide death in South Korea: a nationwide cohort study
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Jin Hwa Kim1, Young Sang Lyu1, Mee Kyoung Kim2, Sang Yong Kim1, Ki-Hyun Baek2, Ki-Ho Song2, Kyungdo Han3
, Hyuk-Sang Kwon2
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1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chosun University Hospital, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea
2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
3Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding author: Kyungdo Han ,Tel: +82-2-820-7025, Fax: +82-2-823-1746, Email: hkd917@naver.com
Hyuk-Sang Kwon ,Tel: +82-2-3799-1039, Fax: +82-2-786-1479, Email: drkwon@catholic.ac.kr
- Received: October 28, 2025; Revised: April 22, 2026 Accepted: May 28, 2026.
- Abstract
- Background/Aims
South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates worldwide. This study examined the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and suicide death using nationwide data.
Methods
The study used the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. A total of 3,951,398 individuals were followed for up to 11 years. The risk of suicide death was analyzed in those with and without MetS and its components. Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to assess the incidence of suicide death, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
During 10,657,552.48 person-years, the incidence of suicide death was higher in individuals with MetS than in those without MetS (0.35 vs. 0.26 per 1,000 person-years). In adjusted analyses, MetS was associated with suicide death (HR: 1.135; 95% CI: 1.088–1.185). Compared with individuals without any metabolic components, those with one to five components showed HRs of 1.09 (1.032–1.151), 1.223 (1.155–1.295), 1.232 (1.154–1.314), 1.358 (1.258–1.466), and 1.434 (1.277–1.609), respectively.
Conclusions
MetS showed a possible association with suicide death. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Keywords :Suicide; Metabolic syndrome; Cohort studies
