Acute poisonings treated in hospitals in Oslo: a one-year prospective study (I): pattern of poisoning.
OBJECTIVE
Prospective design is mandatory to study pattern of poisoning and suicidal intention of patients.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional multi-center study of all patients contacting health care services because of acute poisoning during one year in Oslo, irrespective of intention. Data on the adult hospitalized patients (> or = 16 years) are presented here.


RESULTS
Of a total of 3,775 such adult contacts (3,025 episodes), there were 947 (31 %) hospitalizations; annual incidence 1.9 (per 1,000) in males and 2.1 in females. Median age was 36 years (range 16-89); 54% females. Benzodiazepines (18%), ethanol (17%), paracetamol (12%), opioids (7%), and gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) (7%) were most frequently taken. Patients stated suicidal intention in 29% of the admissions; physicians in 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
Benzodiazepines and ethanol were the most common agents, but newer illicit drugs were frequent, especially GHB. Males often took ethanol and drugs of abuse; females often used prescription drugs with suicidal intention.
Hovda
K E
KE
Department of Acute Medicine, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. kehovda@yahoo.no
Bjornaas
M A
MA
Skog
K
K
Opdahl
A
A
Drottning
P
P
Ekeberg
O
O
Jacobsen
D
D
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000506:poisoning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000506:poisoning; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol