Acute poisonings in Iceland: a prospective nationwide study.
BACKGROUND
Poisoning is a common cause of emergency visits and hospital admission in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and type of toxic exposures presenting to emergency medical facilities in Iceland.


METHODS
The study was prospective and included all patients with confirmed or suspected poisoning presenting to hospitals and rural medical centers providing emergency services in Iceland during the twelve-month period from April 2001 until March 2002.


RESULTS
A total of 1,121 toxic exposures were documented representing an incidence of 3.91 cases per 1,000 inhabitants per year. The female to male ratio was 1.23. The majority of exposures (56.7%) occurred in the patient's home, 60% were deliberate, 72% had drugs and/or alcohol as their main cause, and 11% involved illicit drugs. Exposures to chemicals other than drugs were usually unintentional.


CONCLUSIONS
Toxic exposures requiring emergency medical care are common in Iceland. Self-poisonings by ingestion of prescription drugs and/or alcohol accounted for the majority of cases.
Kristinsson
Jakob
J
Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Palsson
Runolfur
R
Gudjonsdottir
Gudborg A
GA
Blondal
Margret
M
Gudmundsson
Sigurdur
S
Snook
Curtis P
CP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000506:poisoning; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000145:classification / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D015386:Hazardous Substances