Comparison of selected epidemiological features of acute poisoning in young people between 2019 and 2020
Journal
Clinical toxicology
Date Issued
2022-05-27
Author(s)
Berat Huseini, Afrodita
Naumoski, Kiril
Abstract
Objective: COVID-19 has changed the social life-style of young
people. The aim of our study was to assess the difference in
selected demographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents
and young adults (14-24 years) treated at the Clinic of
Toxicology during 2019 and 2020.
Methods: The study was retrospective, observational and cross-
sectional, analyzing data from the Poison Information Center at
the University Clinic of Toxicology during 2019 and 2020. The
observed variables were age (divided into 2 groups with 19 years
old as the cut off value), in/outpatient treatment, circumstances
of poisoning (suicide, accidental, abuse and unknown), outcome
(recovery, postponed) and agents (medicine, alcohol, psycho-
active substances (PAS), chemicals and others).
Results: Poisoning in young patients presented a percentage
decrease of 20.4% in 2020 and without lethal outcome. There
was no significant difference in gender distribution in the two
study years (X2¼1.456, df ¼1, P ¼ 0.228, RR ¼0.917), with an
increased number of male patients of 9% in 2020 and their pres-
entation of 57% in the total number of patients. Significant asso-
ciation was registered between the circumstances of poisoning
and 2020 (X2¼ 5.607, df ¼1, P¼ 0.001) with increased accidental
poisoning in patients younger than 19 years (X2¼9.694, df ¼1,
P ¼ 0.002). Suicidal poisonings in those above 19 years increased
by 32.9% (X2¼ 3.610, df ¼1, P ¼ 0.057) from 2019 to 2020 and
abuse decreased in both age groups, but was significantly
reduced in those aged over 19 years (X2¼7.921, df ¼1,
P ¼ 0.008). There was an association of gender with suicide in
patients under 19 years old (X2 ¼ 4 5.483, df ¼1, P < 0.001) with
males at 3.51 higher risk for suicide (RR ¼3.52, 95%CI 2.283-
5.400) compared to the over 19 years group, where females
were at increased risk for suicide (X2¼26.923, df ¼1, P < 0.001).
Poisoning with medicines were decreased by 38.9% in the under
19 years group (P ¼ 0.837) in 2020. There was no significant asso-
ciation between distribution of type of poisoning and the two
observed years (X2¼ 10.673 df¼ 6, P ¼ 0.099). Poisoning with
medicines (P < 0.001), inpatient treatment (P < 0.001), and
increasing age (P ¼ 0.006) were associated with increased likeli-
hood of suicidal poisoning (v2 (12) ¼ 583.057, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Acute poisoning in patients aged 14-24 years during
the pandemic in 2020 decreased with increased male patients
and without registered lethal outcome. There were increased
accidental poisonings in patients under 19 and suicidal poisoning
in patients above 19 years. Males younger than 19 years were at
higher risk of suicide compared to males aged over 19 years.
people. The aim of our study was to assess the difference in
selected demographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents
and young adults (14-24 years) treated at the Clinic of
Toxicology during 2019 and 2020.
Methods: The study was retrospective, observational and cross-
sectional, analyzing data from the Poison Information Center at
the University Clinic of Toxicology during 2019 and 2020. The
observed variables were age (divided into 2 groups with 19 years
old as the cut off value), in/outpatient treatment, circumstances
of poisoning (suicide, accidental, abuse and unknown), outcome
(recovery, postponed) and agents (medicine, alcohol, psycho-
active substances (PAS), chemicals and others).
Results: Poisoning in young patients presented a percentage
decrease of 20.4% in 2020 and without lethal outcome. There
was no significant difference in gender distribution in the two
study years (X2¼1.456, df ¼1, P ¼ 0.228, RR ¼0.917), with an
increased number of male patients of 9% in 2020 and their pres-
entation of 57% in the total number of patients. Significant asso-
ciation was registered between the circumstances of poisoning
and 2020 (X2¼ 5.607, df ¼1, P¼ 0.001) with increased accidental
poisoning in patients younger than 19 years (X2¼9.694, df ¼1,
P ¼ 0.002). Suicidal poisonings in those above 19 years increased
by 32.9% (X2¼ 3.610, df ¼1, P ¼ 0.057) from 2019 to 2020 and
abuse decreased in both age groups, but was significantly
reduced in those aged over 19 years (X2¼7.921, df ¼1,
P ¼ 0.008). There was an association of gender with suicide in
patients under 19 years old (X2 ¼ 4 5.483, df ¼1, P < 0.001) with
males at 3.51 higher risk for suicide (RR ¼3.52, 95%CI 2.283-
5.400) compared to the over 19 years group, where females
were at increased risk for suicide (X2¼26.923, df ¼1, P < 0.001).
Poisoning with medicines were decreased by 38.9% in the under
19 years group (P ¼ 0.837) in 2020. There was no significant asso-
ciation between distribution of type of poisoning and the two
observed years (X2¼ 10.673 df¼ 6, P ¼ 0.099). Poisoning with
medicines (P < 0.001), inpatient treatment (P < 0.001), and
increasing age (P ¼ 0.006) were associated with increased likeli-
hood of suicidal poisoning (v2 (12) ¼ 583.057, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Acute poisoning in patients aged 14-24 years during
the pandemic in 2020 decreased with increased male patients
and without registered lethal outcome. There were increased
accidental poisonings in patients under 19 and suicidal poisoning
in patients above 19 years. Males younger than 19 years were at
higher risk of suicide compared to males aged over 19 years.
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