title: A profile of calls to a poison information center regarding older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors sought to examine the nature of calls to poison information centers by adults ages 50 and over.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used data from the national Toxic Exposure Surveillance System and conducted a retrospective review of all cases reported to an American Association of Poison Control Centers Certified Regional Poison Information Center in 1998 and 1999 (N = 6,365).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that females' poison experiences were more likely the result of therapeutic error, adverse drug reactions, ingestions, and the acute-on-chronic class. The authors found that older age was inversely associated with acute class, suspected suicide, food poisoning, and inhalation and dermal exposures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults are the greatest consumers of over-the-counter drugs, take multiple medications for various medical conditions, and are experiencing biological changes that affect drug metabolism. Older women may be at especially high risk because of high drug use. Poison prevention education should target older adults.
authors.affiliation: Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3227, USA. Kimberly_Skarupski@rush.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Skarupski
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mrvos
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Krenzelok
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies