Retrospective Analysis of Geriatric Intoxication Cases

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 3, 97 - 102, 28.11.2019

Özlem Bilir , Alpaslan Ünlü Gökhan Ersunan , İsmail Ataş

Abstract

Background: Physiology changing with
age, comorbid diseases in the history of the patient and medication used for
this reason cause the emergence of multiple complications in acute poisoning in
geriatric age group. Chronic diseases basically present in this population are
the most important cause of intentional toxic substance intake.

Materials
and Methods: In this retrospective study, the data of patients aged 60 and older who
referred to the Emergency Medicine Clinic of a tertiary Training and Research
Hospital between 2009 and 2019 with a suspicion of intoxication were assessed
through hospital information management system.

Result: 600 patients referred to
emergency service for intoxication within a period of 10 years and 16 (2.66%)
of these were in geriatric age group. The patients’ age range differed between
60 and 85 years of age. In terms of age distribution, it was found that there
were 3 (18.75%) patients aged 80 and older and 2 patients (12.5%) were found to
ingest toxic substance intentionally. While male patients who were exposed to
toxins unintentionally were higher in number (n=5, 31.5%), the number of
patients who were exposed to toxins intentionally were higher among female
patients (n=7, 43.75%). While the highest number of unintentional toxic substance
exposure occurred with corrosive substance (n=7, 43.75%), the highest number of
intentional exposure occurred by taking higher amounts of antipsychotic drugs
(n=3, 18.75%) than the therapy dose prescribed for psychiatric diseases. 3
patients who were exposed to toxic substance intentionally were hospitalized
and monitored and treated due to the characteristics of the toxic substances
they were exposed to and since they had comorbid diseases.

Conclusion: Although intentional
exposure to toxic substance is the dominant reason for acute intoxication in
all age groups, unintentional exposure history is in the foreground in
geriatric age groups. However, in 60 years of age and older population,
situations which cause limitations in physical movement, depression, social
isolation or the presence of diseases which are impossible to treat can cause
the emergence of the feeling of self-destruction and result in suicidal
attempt. 

Keywords

Geriatric, poisoning, intentional, unintentional, suicide

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