Acute poisonings in geriatric population in a one year period
Journal
Clinical toxicology
Date Issued
2022-05-25
Author(s)
Berat Huseini, Afrodita
Naumoski, Kiril
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the intent and
most common substances involved in acute poisoning in geriatric patients.
Methods: This was a descriptive study over a period of one year
(2019) in which 92 geriatric patients aged 65 years were
enrolled. Data from the national patient electronic system “My
term” and from the Poisoning Information Center, University
Clinic of Toxicology was used. Variables including gender, age,
type of substance, route of substance administration, intent of
acute poisoning, duration of hospitalization were analyzed.
Severity of poisoning was made using the Poison Severity
Score (PSS).
Results: The participants were divided in two groups depending
on the intention of acute poisoning: patients with intentional
(attempted suicide 45.7%) and unintentional (abuse 26.1% and
accidental 28.3%) toxin exposure. The majority of patients were
male (52.2%). The mean age was 73.1 ± 6.3 years. The average
length of hospitalization was 6.9 ± 8.3 days. There was a significant relationship between gender and intention of poisoning (p <0.001) with a higher prevalence of poisoning in women
with suicidal intent (69%) compared to men (31%). There was
statistical significance in mixed toxin exposure (p ¼ 0.001) in
favour of the group with intentional poisoning and alcohol
(p < 0.001) and gases (p¼ 0.035) in favour of the group with
unintentional poisoning. The most frequent toxins were corrosives (26.1%), followed by patients who were exposed to multiple
substances (21.7%). Most patients (55.4%) had minor effects and
only 9.8% had severe poisoning. Six patients had a fatal outcome
(four with intentional and two with unintentional poisoning).
Severity of acute poisoning was statistically different between
the two exposure type groups, with a higher PSS in the intentional poisoning group (p ¼ 0.023).
Conclusion: Unintentional poisonings are more frequent in the
geriatric population and the most common are acute poisonings
with alcohol, followed by corrosives and medicines. With intentional suicidal poisoning mixed toxin exposure was most common, followed by corrosives and medicines.
most common substances involved in acute poisoning in geriatric patients.
Methods: This was a descriptive study over a period of one year
(2019) in which 92 geriatric patients aged 65 years were
enrolled. Data from the national patient electronic system “My
term” and from the Poisoning Information Center, University
Clinic of Toxicology was used. Variables including gender, age,
type of substance, route of substance administration, intent of
acute poisoning, duration of hospitalization were analyzed.
Severity of poisoning was made using the Poison Severity
Score (PSS).
Results: The participants were divided in two groups depending
on the intention of acute poisoning: patients with intentional
(attempted suicide 45.7%) and unintentional (abuse 26.1% and
accidental 28.3%) toxin exposure. The majority of patients were
male (52.2%). The mean age was 73.1 ± 6.3 years. The average
length of hospitalization was 6.9 ± 8.3 days. There was a significant relationship between gender and intention of poisoning (p <0.001) with a higher prevalence of poisoning in women
with suicidal intent (69%) compared to men (31%). There was
statistical significance in mixed toxin exposure (p ¼ 0.001) in
favour of the group with intentional poisoning and alcohol
(p < 0.001) and gases (p¼ 0.035) in favour of the group with
unintentional poisoning. The most frequent toxins were corrosives (26.1%), followed by patients who were exposed to multiple
substances (21.7%). Most patients (55.4%) had minor effects and
only 9.8% had severe poisoning. Six patients had a fatal outcome
(four with intentional and two with unintentional poisoning).
Severity of acute poisoning was statistically different between
the two exposure type groups, with a higher PSS in the intentional poisoning group (p ¼ 0.023).
Conclusion: Unintentional poisonings are more frequent in the
geriatric population and the most common are acute poisonings
with alcohol, followed by corrosives and medicines. With intentional suicidal poisoning mixed toxin exposure was most common, followed by corrosives and medicines.
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