A Comparative Prospective Study of Self-poisoned Patients in Trondheim, Norway between 1978 and 1987: Epidemiology and Clinical Data

Abstract

<jats:p> 1 In a prospective study of patients hospitalized for deliberate self-poisoning between 1978 and 1987 the number of admissions increased from 303 to 425. The annual incidence increased significantly for both women (P &lt; 0.05) and men (P &lt; 0.01). The mean age decreased significantly in the male group (P &lt; 0.05), but increased in the female group (P &lt; 0.05). </jats:p><jats:p> 2 The median latency time for patients presenting at the hospital was short; 3.7 h in 1978 and 2.9 h in 1987. </jats:p><jats:p> 3 There was a significant reduction in the percentage using barbiturates (9% in 1978 and 1% in 1987; P &lt; 0.001) and the use of benzodiazepines increased (18% in 1978 and 32% in 1987; P &lt; 0.05). The percentage of unconscious patients did not change significantly. </jats:p><jats:p> 4 In 1987 N-acetyl-cysteine was the most frequently used antidote. Physostigmine has almost been abandoned since 1978. </jats:p><jats:p> 5 Significantly more patients were hypotensive in 1978: 24% vs 11% in 1987; (P &lt; 0.001) and significantly less patients needed treatment in the central intensive care unit (2% in 1987 and 5% in 1978; P &lt; 0.05). Complications were few (8-10%) and the mortality low (approximately 1%) in both years studied. </jats:p><jats:p> 6 The mean duration of hospitalization in 1978 was 65 h vs 30 h in 1987, (P &lt; 0.001). </jats:p>

Acute adult poisoning cases admitted to a university hospital in Tabriz, Iran

“…[38][39][40] In Western countries, drugs (sedatives and analgesics) have been reported as the most common substances abused with mortality rates varying between 0.4% and 2.0%. [41][42][43] There are few published studies of agrochemical poisoning in developed countries. The higher mortality rate due to organophosphates may be because of easy availability and uncontrolled sale and use of these agents.…”

A profile of acute poisoning at Mangalore (South India)

“…From Western countries, drugs (sedatives and analgesics) have reported as the commonest substances abused with mortality rates varying between 0.4% and 2.0%. [8][9][10] Reports available from certain Asian (Pakistan and SriLanka) and African countries (Uganda) describe organophosphates (crop sprays) and drugs as the commonly abused toxic substances with reported mortality rates varying from 2.0% to 2.1%. [11][12][13] The mortality/morbidity in any case of acute poisoning depends upon number of factors such as nature of poison, dose consumed, level of available medical facilities and the time of interval between intakes of poison and arrival at hospital, etc.…”

Poisoning deaths in married women

“…From western countries [8][9][10][11] drugs (sedatives and analgesics) have been reported as the commonest substances abused with mortality rates varying between 0.4% and 2.0%. Reports 12-15 available from certain Asian (Pakistan, Srilanka) and African (Uganda) countries describe organophosphates (crop sprays) and drugs as the commonly abused toxic substances with reported mortality rates varying from 2.0% to 2.1%.…”