[The epidemiological surveillance of acute poisoning in 1997 (a study of 1140 cases from the area south of the Madrid Community)].
Following a line of work we studied 1,140 acute poisoning (AP) attended at the Internal Medicine Emergency Department at 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, in 1997. The incidence increased up to 157/100,000 inhabitants. Mean age was 36 years (SD: 15 y), median, 32 years. Self-inflicted AP: 1,052 cases (92%); the suicide attempt was the most common type (509, 48%). Among males, the alcoholic intoxication (332, 59%) predominated. Among accidental AP (88 cases), 90% occurred at home. Poisons: drugs. Drugs were used for 78% of suicide attempts. The relative incidence of benzodiazepines increased (47%) and that of antidepressive drugs decreased (11%). A remarkable increase in the "other drugs" group was noted, as well as the association of drugs and non-drugs (10%). Alcohol use increased significantly (249 cases more than in 1994), as well as drugs although to a lesser extent, breaking the trend observed in the last few years. Cocaine is now the most common (among women heroin is still the leading cause); 5 AP were caused by synthesis drugs (extasis, MDMA) and an increase was observed with "other drugs".


BACKGROUND
suicide attempts: depression (30%) and previous attempts (19%); ethylism: alcoholism (40%); AP with other drugs: drug abuse (52%). Admitted to ICU: 1.4%. The mortality rate decreased to 0.08%.
Caballero Vallés
P J
PJ
Centro de Salud Angela Uriarte, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid.
Dorado Pombo
S
S
Brusínt Olivares
B
B
Jerez Basurco
B
B
Medina Sampedro
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data