Epidemiological Assessment of acute poisoning Death- One year Survey

Acute poisoning by drugs and chemical agents is a medical emergency and carries a high morbidity and mortality rate. The epidemiology of acute poisoning varies between countries and different regions. In this one year retrospective study, we reviewed the epidemiology of patients with acute poisoning (intentionally or unintentionally) who died during hospitalization at Loghman Hakim hospital, Tehran, Iran. Of the 280 cases of completed suicide by self-poisoning 69 (24.6%) cases were female and 211(75.4%) cases were male, between 15-78 years old with mean±SD of 39±17.5. Most of them were conscious (69.6%) on admission to Emergency Department (ED). Past history of any self- harm were positive in 82 (29.3) cases of subjects. Multiple drug toxicity and opioid poisoning were the most common causes of acute poisoning death in 27.5% and 27.1% respectively. Differences based on age category, sex, the types of toxic agents involved and the outcomes of the poisoning death incidents were noted. Future interventions should take these differences into account.