Frequency and mortality risk factors of acute adult poisoning in Adana, Turkey, 1997-2002.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the data on acute adult poisoning over a six-year period at a university emergency department in Turkey and identify the risk factors of mortality.


METHODS
In this survey, data were collected from 2,229 adult patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) of Cukurova Medical Faculty, Adana, from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2002.


RESULTS
Of all emergency admissions during the six years, 1.6% were poisoned. Of the total poisoning cases, 725 (32.5%) were males and 1,504 were females. Mean age was 29.3 +/- 13.2 for males and 23.8 +/- 9.6 for females (p=0.001). A majority of the cases (76.4%) were attempted suicides. The attempted suicide ratio is higher for women (gender ratio: 2.4/1) and youths. Drugs were the most frequent cause of poisoning (59.0%) and pesticides were the second (26.4%). Psychoactive drugs were the most common agent (33.5%) among drugs, with their rate increasing each year. Eighty-seven patients died (3.9%): alcohol (methanol) was the most frequent cause of death (20.6%), followed by mushrooms (11.5%), carbon monoxide (10.3%) and pesticides (8.3%). More men than women died by poisoning (OR: 1.8 CI: 1.1-3.1). Gender, age, season, clinical status, initial emergency care and type of substance were significant risk factors for mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Poisoning by psychoactive drugs was increasing each year of the study, but many drugs are not a serious risk factor for mortality. However, organic phosphorus is a serious risk factor for poisoning and mortality in this area. Providing satisfactory public and emergency staff assistance and education on the subject may reduce the mortality rate.
Seydaoglu
Gulsah
G
Cukurova University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, 01330 Balcali-Adana, Turkey. gseyda@cu.edu.tr
Satar
Salim
S
Alparslan
Nazan
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology