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Cited by 151Homelessness and Social IssuesHIV, Drug Use, Sexual RiskUrban and Rural Development Challenges

10 year follow up study of mortality among users of hostels for homeless people in Copenhagen

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Nordentoft, Merete, Wandall-Holm, Nina·2003·BMJ
DOI 10.1136/bmj.327.7406.81PMC PMC164916
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Abstract

Objectives To investigate mortality among users of hostels for homeless people in Copenhagen, and to identify predictors of death such as conditions during upbringing, mental illness, and misuse of alcohol and drugs. Design Register based follow up study. Setting Two hostels for homeless people in Copenhagen, Denmark Participants 579 people who stayed in one hostel in Copenhagen in 1991, and a representative sample of 185 people who stayed in the original hostel and one other in Copenhagen. Main outcome measure Cause specific mortality. Results The age and sex standardised mortality ratio for both sexes was 3.8 (95% confidence interval 3.5 to 4.1); 2.8 (2.6 to 3.1) for men and 5.6 (4.3 to 6.9) for women. The age and sex standardised mortality ratio for suicide for both sexes was 6.0 (3.9 to 8.1), for death from natural causes 2.6 (2.3 to 2.9), for unintentional injuries 14.6 (11.4 to 17.8), and for unknown cause of death 62.9 (52.7 to 73.2). Mortality was comparatively higher in the younger age groups. It was also significantly higher among homeless people who had stayed in a hostel more than once and stayed fewer than 11 days, compared with the rest of the study group. Risk factors for early death were premature death of the father and misuse of alcohol and sedatives. Conclusion Homeless people staying in hostels, particularly young women, are more likely to die early than the general population. Other predictors of early death include adverse experiences in childhood, such as death of the father, and misuse of alcohol and sedatives.

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  • The ageing of the homeless population suggests a cohort effect, with individuals born between 1954 and 1965 experiencing homelessness at a higher rate throughout their lives.

    “This suggests a cohort effect: individuals born between 1954 and 1965 have experienced homelessness at a higher rate throughout their lives.31”

    From The health of homeless people in high-income countries: descriptive epidemiology, health consequences, and clinical and policy recommendations (2014) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Methods describe a sample of Copenhagen hostel residents identified in 1991, and the Predictors of death section examines age in relation to mortality. Searches for a cohort effect, birth years 1954–1965, and higher lifetime rates of homelessness found no passage addressing those claims in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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  • Some studies found no significant overall difference in mortality between homeless men and women.

    “However, similar to our study, some studies found no significant overall difference in mortality between homeless men and women [2], [11], whereas others found lower mortality and higher life expectancies in homeless women [10], [32].”

    From Mortality and life expectancy in homeless men and women in Rotterdam: 2001-2010 (2013) · cites this paper as [11]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [9]9. American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association diagnostic criteria from DSM-III-R. Cambridge: Press Syndicate of the Uni- versity of Cambridge, 1987.

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Authors
Nordentoft, M., & Wandall-Holm, N.
Affiliations
Bispebjerg Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Nordentoft, Merete
ORCID
Nordentoft, Merete
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2003-07-10
Volume
327
Issue
7406
Pages
81
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
DOI
10.1136/bmj.327.7406.81
PMC
PMC164916
OpenAlex
W2123885111
Cited by
151
References
17
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 4
FWCI
11.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.bmj.com/company/legal-information/terms-conditions/legal-information/tdm-licencepolicy (tdm)
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Urban and Rural Development Challenges
Keywords
homelessness, hostels, mortality, suicide, unintentional injuries, alcohol abuse, childhood adversity, father's death, young women, Copenhagen
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Denmark, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Ill-Housed Persons, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Registries, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution

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