ORIGINAL PAPER
Poisoning deaths in Poland: Types and frequencies reported in Łódź,
Kraków, Sosnowiec, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Poznań during 2009–2013
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1 |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Toxicology, Toxicology Unit) |
2 |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Toxicology, Poison Information Centre) |
3 |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Department of Radiological Protection) |
4 |
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
(Department of Clinical Toxicology) |
5 |
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
(Poison Information Centre) |
6 |
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, Sosnowiec, Poland
(Regional Poisons Control Centre) |
7 |
T. Marciniak Lower Silesian Specialized Hospital – Emergency Medicine Centre, Wrocław, Poland |
8 |
Pomeranian Center of Toxicology, Gdańsk, Poland |
9 |
Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
(Department of Clinical Toxicology) |
10 |
University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
(Department of Emergency Medicine) |
11 |
Raszeja Hospital in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
(Department of Toxicology) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Anna Krakowiak
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Toxicology, św. Teresy 8, 91-348 Łódź, Poland
Online publication date: 2017-08-22
Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(6):897–908
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of this study has been to assess the characteristics of acute poisoning deaths in Poland over a period
of time 2009–2013. Material and Methods: The analysis was based on the data obtained from the patient records stored
in toxicology departments in 6 cities – Łódź, Kraków, Sosnowiec, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Poznań. Toxicological analyses
were routinely performed in blood and/or urine. Major toxic substances were classified to one of the following categories:
pharmaceuticals, alcohol group poisonings (ethanol and other alcohols), gases, solvents, drugs of abuse, pesticides, metals,
mushrooms, others. Cases were analyzed according to the following criteria: year, age and gender of analyzed patients, toxic
substance category and type of poisoning. The recorded fatal poisonings were classified according to the International Classification
of Diseases. Results: The record of 261 deaths were retrospectively reviewed. There were 187 males (71.64%)
and 74 females (28.36%) and the male to female ratio was 2.52. Alcohol group poisonings were more frequently responsible
for deaths in men compared to all poisonings, 91.1% vs. 71.6%, respectively (p < 0.05), and pharmaceutical agents were
more frequently responsible for deaths in women, 47.4% vs. 28.4%, (p < 0.05). Methanol was the most common agent in
the alcohol group poisonings, accounting for 43.75% (N = 49), followed by ethylene glycol, 39.29% (N = 44), and ethanol,
16.96% (N = 19). Conclusions: Epidemiological profile data from investigation of poisoning deaths in Poland may be very
useful for the development of preventive programs. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(6):897–908