Citation

Pastó Cardona L, Martorell Puigserver C, Mercadal Orfila G, Machí Ribes JJ, Jódar Massanès R. Rev. Toxicol. 2007; 24(1): 36-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Asociación Española de Toxicología)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the epidemiological changes in the acute poisonings (AP) between 1994 and 2004. For this purpose, all the cases attended at the Emergency Service with the diagnosis of acute poisoning were studied, by means of a transverse descriptive analytical study developed in two periods of one month separated for 10 years, and comparing the results. The demographic, clinical and toxicological data were recorded. The acute poisoning's prevalence in the Emergency Service increased significantly (0,83 vs. 1,25%) whereas the hospitalization for this reason decreased from 30,5% to 6,34%. The average age of our series were unchanged, (between 32-33 years) as well as the relation man / woman, that it ranged about 1. No deaths were recorded. Drugs were the most frequent poisoning agent (51,3% and 62,7% respectively) with an increase due principally to the benzodiazepines. Likewise, the alcohol increased its presence in multiple poisonings, diminishing as the only agent. The admissions for drugs of abuse experienced a setback, from 26 to 19%. The patients who received any type of treatment diminished but not in a significant form, from 52,8 to 44,4% and, in spite of the benzodiazepines increase, the utilization of flumazenil changed from 7% to 8,5% of the cases. The utilization of naloxone diminished to the half. The attempts of suicide increased 25%, which supposed 65% of the whole of the IA in the second studied period. The hospitalization, on the contrary, descended from 45% to 6% in these patients. Drugs, and among them the psychotropes, were the most frequent poisoning agent, implied in 62% and 78% of the suicide attempts. The association drug and alcohol increased in a significant way (10% vs. 22%). The patients' record with psychiatric precedents was increased from 29% to 75%. In the age interval from 21 to 30, the percentage of women is twice than that of men in both periods. The prevalencia of the IA experienced a significant increase, parallel to the attempts of autolisis; nevertheless the admission in hospitalization units, diminished both in the global of the IA and in the suicide attempts. Drugs, and among them the benzodiacepines were the toxic agent most frequently involved.

Language: es

Keywords

adult; Adults; human; naloxone; female; male; prevalence; suicide attempt; Emergency department; intoxication; article; major clinical study; controlled study; emergency ward; flumazenil; Acute poisoning; university hospital; Intentionality; benzodiazepin 2 one derivative