| Objectives: The clinical and socio-demographic patterns of acute poisoning admitted into emergency department of Shengjing hospital of China medical university,a regional tertiary care hospital in Shenyang,were retrospectively analyzed in recent years,and compared with the previous studies in this region,so as to provide a reference for the management and prevention of acute poisoning in this region.Methods: We reviewed all records of cases of poisoning admitted to the ED(including cases referred to the ED from other wards)over 7 consecutive years from January 2012 to December 2018.Inclusion criteria: all patients aged ≥ 11 years with a diagnosis of acute poisoning at discharge.Exclusion criteria:(1)Patients aged < 11 years;(2)Animal bites(snakes,insects,etc.);(3)Patients with chronic poisoning;(4)Patients with toxic sequelae;(5)Patients taking exams after poisoning.Demographic data of patients who met the study criteria including age,gender,place of residence,diagnosis,type of exposure(suicidal,abusive,accidental,and unknown),type of toxic agent(generic name or trade name),length of stay,and treatment outcome were collected and documented on a structured form.Age categories: 11~19,20~29,30~39,40~49,50~59,60~69,≥70;Toxic agents were classified as therapeutic drugs,pesticides,alcohol,gases,chemicals,food,other substances and unknown;Type of exposure was classified as suicidal,abusive,accidental and unknown.The data were statistically analyzed using Excel 2007 and SPSS 21.0.Results: During this period,a total of 6902 poisoning records met the study criteria and were included.Of the 6902 cases included,3671(53.2%)were recognized as female,and 3231(46.8%)were determined as male,and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.14.The mean age of all patients was 36.2 ± 15.1 years.The mean age of male and female patients was 36.8 ± 15.3 years and 35.6 ± 15.1 years,respectively.The patients most vulnerable to poisoning were aged 20-29 years(30.1% of cases),followed by patients aged 30-39 years(21.5% of cases)and 40-49 years(15.9% of cases).There was a statistically significant gender difference(male and female)between the different age groups of poisoned patients(χ2=28.19,p<0.001).The majority of patients were classified as suicidal poisoning(3835 cases,55.6%),followed by accidental poisoning(1499,21.7%),abusive poisoning(1497,21.7%),and unexplained poisoning(71,1.0%).There was a significant gender difference in suicide and drug abuse: females were involved in more suicidal poisonings than males: 62.3% for females versus 37.7% for males(χ2=289.14,p <0.001);poisoning due to drug abuse showed the opposite tendency: 69.9% for males versus 30.1% for females(χ2=410.66,p<0.001).Oral administration was the most common route of poisoning(86.1%).The four most common toxic agent groups in decreasing order were therapeutic drugs,pesticides,alcohol,gases;849(12.3%)patients consumed two or more toxic agents.However,with regard to specific substances,alcohol,paraquat,CO and sedatives/hypnotics were the four main toxic agents.Paraquat and sedatives/hypnotics were the most common poisons in the pesticide and therapeutic drug groups,respectively.The season with the highest incidence of pesticide poisoning is the summer,while the season with the most common gas poisoning is the winter.The hospital mortality rate was 1.3% with 93 deaths.Conclusion: A downward trend of the overall number of poisonings is presented between 2012 and 2018.The proportion of poisoning of paraquat and sedative/hypnotic drugs are gradually decreased in their respective groups,while the proportion of poisoning of other pesticides and psychotropics are increasing in their respective groups.The characteristics of acute poisoning in this area are different from those of ten years ago. |
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