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HOME > J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol > Volume 14(2); 2016 > Article
Comparison of Epidemiology and Outcomes of Patients with Intentional Poisoning by Age Groups: Single Center Observation Study
Jin Hyun Kim, Jin Seong Cho, Jin Joo Kim, Yong Su Lim, Hyuk Jun Yang, Geun Lee
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology 2016;14(2):129-135
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2016.14.2.129
Published online: December 31, 2016
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1Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
2Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
3Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
4Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
5Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
6Department of Emergency Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare demographic and characteristic differences in self-poisoned patients by age groups using a comprehensive trauma database. Methods: This study included 1,823 patients who were admitted to the emergency room following self-poisoning. Three age groups were defined: young patients (less than 19 years), adult patients (19 to 64 years) and elderly patients (65 years and old). From January 2011 to December 2015, data were obtained from in a single emergency medical center. We investigated the materials of poisoning, ingestion time, GCS, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and outcomes of patients. Results: A total of 1,823 self-poisoned patients visited the hospital during 5 years. Among these, 130 (7.1%) were categorized as young, 1,460 (80.1%) were adults and 233 (12.8%) were elderly. The most common drug of self-poisoning substances was antipyretics (50.0%) for those in the young group, sedative drugs (45.0%) for adults, and pesticides (41.2%) for the elderly. Mortality was 2.7% in the adult group and 14.6% in the elderly group. After adjusting for all factors related to mortality, the odds ratio (OR) of mortality was 2.63 in the elderly group (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-4.81). Conclusion: There were definite differences in the characteristics of three groups. The younger patients used drugs that could be easily obtained while older patients used more lethal drugs.

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