Background:

Empirical research investigating older adult homicide is sparse and rarely accumulated for greater insights. This systematic review and meta-analysis quantifies the prevalence and characteristics of homicide victimization among older adults (65 years and older) compared with younger adults (18–64 years).

Method:

We searched Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published before December 31, 2018 (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration: CRD42017054536). Included were English-language, original, peer-reviewed studies describing the homicide of older adults. Excluded were studies not meeting age criteria, residence as an institution, or with insufficient outcome variables. The review included 39 studies; 17 were included in the meta-analysis. Data were extracted via open access or from study authors. Heterogeneity was assessed through study-level random effects estimates.

Results:

Pooled homicide rates per 100,000 population were 2.02 (95% CI [1.23, 3.33]) for older adults (n = 35,325) and 3.98 (95% CI [2.42, 6.53]) for younger adults (n = 607,224; rate ratio = .51, 95% CI [0.37, 0.70], p < .001). Proportion estimates for older adults: victim female 46.3%, location home 71.4%, offender familiar 25.2%, compared to stranger, 24.2%, motive argument 36.1%, compared to felony 30.8%, and weapon firearm 24.5%. Older adults were significantly different to younger adult victims (p = <.001) for female (OR = 2.5, 95% CI [2.02, 3.10]), home (3.87, 95% CI [3.45, 4.35]), stranger (1.81, 95% CI [1.66, 1.98]), argument (0.33, 95% CI [0.28, 0.39]), felony (2.78, 95% CI [2.58, 2.99]), and firearm (0.38, 95% CI [0.36, 0.40]).

Conclusions:

Homicide against older adults differs from younger adults and warrants specific research and tailored prevention strategies.

中文翻译：

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社区老年人杀人的流行病学：系统评价和荟萃分析

背景：

调查老年人凶杀案的实证研究很少，而且很少积累以获得更深入的见解。本系统回顾和荟萃分析量化了老年人（65 岁及以上）与年轻人（18-64 岁）相比杀人案受害的发生率和特征。

方法：

我们检索了 Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature、Cochrane、Criminal Justice Abstracts、EMBASE、MEDLINE、ProQuest、PsycINFO、Scopus 和 Web of Science，以查找 2018 年 12 月 31 日之前发表的研究（国际前瞻性系统评价注册：CRD42017054536） . 其中包括描述老年人凶杀案的英语、原创、经过同行评审的研究。排除的是不符合年龄标准、作为机构居住地或结果变量不足的研究。该综述包括 39 项研究；17 人被纳入荟萃分析。数据是通过开放获取或从研究作者那里提取的。通过研究水平的随机效应估计评估异质性。

结果：

对于老年人 ( n = 35,325)，每 100,000 人的合并凶杀率为 2.02 (95% CI [1.23, 3.33])，对于年轻人 ( n = 607,224；比率 = . 51, 95% CI [0.37, 0.70], p < .001)。老年人的比例估计：受害女性 46.3%，住所 71.4%，熟悉的罪犯 25.2%，与陌生人相比，24.2%，动机论据 36.1%，与重罪 30.8% 相比，武器枪支 24.5%。对于女性( OR= 2.5, 95% CI [2.02, 3.10]), 家 (3.87, 95% CI [3.45, 4.35]), 陌生人 (1.81, 95% CI [1.66, 1.98]), 参数 (0.33, 95% CI [0.28] , 0.39])、重罪 (2.78, 95% CI [2.58, 2.99]) 和枪支 (0.38, 95% CI [0.36, 0.40])。

结论：

针对老年人的杀人不同于年轻人，需要进行具体研究和量身定制的预防策略。