A profile of calls to a poison information center regarding older adults.
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.
Skarupski
Kimberly A
KA
Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3227, USA. Kimberly_Skarupski@rush.edu
Mrvos
Rita
R
Krenzelok
Edward P
EP
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