Acute intentional poisonings within an urban agglomeration in Poland in 2004–2013

• Authors: Anna Piekarska-Wijatkowska , Katarzyna Kobza-Sindlewska , Jolanta Przyłuska , Anna Krakowiak

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesThe aim of the research was to analyze the nature of changes and tendencies observed in the frequency, circumstances and causes of acute intentional poisonings within the agglomeration of Łódź, Poland. The study related to adults.Material and MethodsAs the research material, medical records of patients hospitalized due to an acute poisoning in the Department of Toxicology in Łódź were used. Information on the hospitalized patients was gathered in the database created in accordance with the assumed criteria and an approved system of the collection of variables describing the issues of intentional acute poisonings.ResultsIn the analyzed period, within the group of 18 918 adult patients hospitalized due to an acute poisoning, male patients prevailed, accounting for 57.17% of the whole group. Intentional poisonings constituted 40.19% of all poisonings, with women dominating within that group of patients – accounting for approximately 58.63%. The largest group was formed by young people, 18–35 years old, accounting for 43.22%. The average age of the intentionally poisoned patients showed an upward tendency; this tendency concerned women to a larger extent. Medications played the most powerful role in acute intentional poisonings. Within the whole population, they were responsible for 97.27% of intoxications. The analysis of the dynamics of changes in the percentage of patients referred for further mental treatment revealed that the number of patients continuing hospital treatment in psychiatric wards tended to grow.ConclusionsObservations indicating that women are more likely to attempt intentional poisoning, and that the number of patients with psychiatric disturbances tended to grow in the analyzed period, demonstrate an urgent need for preventive measures to be taken in the local communities.

Keywords

EN

epidemiology; self-poisonings; suicidal attempt; toxicology; xenobiotics; retrospective study

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 77-90

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

Anna Piekarska-Wijatkowska

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Toxicology Clinic, Poison Information Centre)

author

Katarzyna Kobza-Sindlewska

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Toxicology Clinic, Poison Information Centre)

author

Jolanta Przyłuska

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Knowledge Management)

author

Anna Krakowiak

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Toxicology Clinic, Department of Toxicology)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01488

Biblioteka Nauki

2116732