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Citation
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Clemente Rodríguez C, Aguirre Tejedo AA, Echarte Pazos JL, Puente Palacios I, Iglesias Lepine ML, Supervía Caparrós A. Emergencias 2010; 22(6): 435-440. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze intoxications treated in our emergency department according to the patient's gender.
METHODS: Retrospective study of intoxications treated in 2003 and 2004. We recorded patient characteristics, place where the toxic exposure occurred, treatment, and destination on discharge; data for men and women were compared.
RESULTS: Our department recorded treating 1531 cases of intoxication. Mean patient age was 34 years; 56.6% were men. Suicide was the motive for more women than men (35.6% vs 18.8%), and women suffered more accidental intoxications than men (11.7% vs 4.2%). However, fewer recreational intoxications were treated in women (52.6% vs 77.0%) (P<.001 for all comparisons). Toxic exposure occurred in a public place more often in men (68.1%) than women (46.8%), who were more frequently exposed at home (50.8% vs 28.9% for men) (P<.001). Men more often had a history of prior intoxication (51.6% vs 39.2%, P<.001). Drug-related intoxications were more common in women overall (31.6% vs 12.6%), but men had more drug abuse exposures (23.8% vs 11.3%) (P<.001, both comparisons). Regarding street drug abuse, more polydrug intoxications were also recorded for men (43.9% vs 31.3%, P=.003). Psychiatric evaluations were performed in 27.7% of the men and 40.2% of the women (P<.001). Treatment differed only for the percentage of gastrointestinal tract decontaminations performed (16.8% of women vs 7.3% of men, P<001). Destination on discharge did not differ.
CONCLUSIONS: In women, intoxications occurred at home from drugs and products found in the home and women more often used exposure to a toxic substance to attempt suicide. Recreational use of illicit toxic substances was more common in men, who also used public places more often.
Language: es |