title: Glasgow coma scale score in the prognosis of acute carbamate insecticide intoxication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carbamate is a widely used insecticide, and fatality due to carbamate insecticide intoxication has been reported. However, no studies have addressed the factors associated with outcome of patients poisoned by carbamate insecticide. The present study sought to identify the independent factors that could help predict the development of medical complications as a result of carbamate intoxication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty two patients presenting with acute carbamate insecticide ingestion at Chonnam National University Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective observational case series. The morbidities that needed intensive treatment such as hypotension, respiratory failure, and death were regarded as complications. To identify the associated factors to these complications, objective variables that are easily assessed at presentation, such as age, initial Glasgow coma scale (GSC) and corrected QT (QTc) prolongation, were analyzed by univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 52 patients, 35 (67.3%) had medical complications within 24 hours after carbamate insecticide intoxication and seven (13.5%) died. Respiratory failure was the most common medical complication. The significant factors determined by univariate analysis were initial GCS, elevated lactate, and QTc prolongation. However, initial GCS (≤13) was the only independent factor determined by multivariate analysis that was associated with serious complications requiring intensive medical treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carbamate insecticide intoxication is not a mild disease, as previously thought, having a mortality rate of 13.8% and a morbidity rate of 67.3%. Initial GCS ≤ 13 can be used as a significant factor to identify carbamate insecticide-intoxicated patients who will experience complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea. emdrmjm@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeong Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byeong Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Byung Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002219:Carbamates / Q000506:poisoning*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002219:Carbamates; D007306:Insecticides