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HOME > J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol > Volume 14(1); 2016 > Article
Trends of Intentional Poisoning: A Retrospective Single Center Study During 15 Years
Sung Kyu Kong, Sang Hoon Oh, Kyu Nam Park, Han Joon Kim
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology 2016;14(1):47-53
DOI: https://doi.org/
Published online: June 30, 2016
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1Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
2Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
3Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea
4Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea

Purpose: Intentional poisoning is a major public health issue in many parts of the world. This study was conducted to provide details regarding the epidemiology of intentional poisoning in a metropolitan emergency department and to identify the changing patterns and epidemiology of poisoning. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate intentional poisoning of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary teaching hospital between 2001 and 2015. All intentional poisoning-related emergency department visits over three five year periods (2001-2005 (P1), 2006-2010 (P2) and 2011-2015 (P3)) were reviewed to investigate trends in intentional poisoning patients. Information regarding patient sex, age, time from episode to admission, psychiatric history, type of intoxicants, alcohol co-ingestion, gastric lavage, charcoal administration, any previous suicide attempts, need for hospitalization and death before discharge was reviewed. Results: A total of 1269 patients were enrolled in this study. The number of patients admitted during each period was P1=515, P2=439 and P3=315. Comparison of the three groups revealed significant differences according to age (p<0.001), psychiatric history (p<0.001), alcohol co-ingestion (p=0.013), gastric lavage (p<0.001), charcoal administration (p<0.001), need for hospitalization (p=0.044), repeated attempt (p<0.001) and type of intoxicants (p<0.001). Conclusion: The average age of intentional poisoning patients has increased. While the use of sedatives and multiple drugs increased, the use of pesticides and the antihistamine decreased.

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JKSCT : Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology