Mortality After the Death of a Spouse in Norway

Abstract

A considerable excess mortality risk was observed in widowed men and women from immediately after the loss of a spouse and for the next 10 years.

Increased risk of death immediately after losing a spouse: Cause-specific mortality following widowhood in Norway

“…After the first year of widowhood, excess mortality in our analysis stabilized over the subsequent 5 to 6 years, but remained high, which illustrates the long-term effect of widowhood. Indeed, other studies have shown that the risk of all-cause death remains elevated for at least 10 years after widowhood (Ytterstad and Brenn, 2015;Boyle et al, 2011). We found a long-term excess risk for each cause-group considered.…”

“…All information in Statistics Norway is updated annually. These data are not available to the public, and a detailed description of the material has been given elsewhere (Ytterstad and Brenn, 2015). Briefly, a total of 1,801,456 individuals who were registered as married in Statistics Norway in 1975 were followed for 32 years (from 1 January 1975 to 31 December 2006) for marital status and death, and widowed individuals were followed for mortality for 7 years following widowhood.…”

“…Hazard ratios (HRs) for widowed versus married individuals were computed as the Nelson-Aalen estimator divided by the accumulated average married mortality based on the causespecific life tables. A more detailed description is found elsewhere (Ytterstad and Brenn, 2015). The HR is a function of time since spousal death.…”

“…This risk is higher just after widowhood, but remains elevated even after several years. Sex and age differences have also been reported, with higher excess mortality among men than women, and a decline in excess mortality with age, though more so in men than women (Ytterstad and Brenn, 2015). However, most studies on mortality following widowhood did not have sufficient data to investigate various causes or timing of death.…”

Death following partner bereavement: A self-controlled case series analysis

“…An actuarial country wide Norwegian study of married couples reported similar risks but especially occurring in the first seven days[19] and in the younger-old. A particularly high risk occurred on the same day but that may simply be that both members of a couple dies in the same incident.…”