LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To assess the characteristics of acute poisoning cases treated in hospital emergency departments over 5 years. METHODS Retrospective study of acute poisoning cases treated in 3 hospitals between 2013 and 2017 and an analysis of the demographic characteristics, types of poisoning, seasonal variations, care received and recurrence. RESULTS Some 0.51% of all cases treated in the 3 hospitals corresponded to acute poisoning. The percentages varied by hospital location (0.91% urban, 0.37% coastal and 0.22% rural). Cases of alcohol poisoning had a seasonal character, increasing during the summer on the coast (P<.05). There were differences in the type of poisoning ( P<.05) for patients 31 years of age and older in the 3 hospitals. Alcohol represented the largest number of cases in patients 31 years of age and older, except in the rural area where most cases were due to voluntary poisoning in attempted suicide. Men had a higher prevalence of poisoning than women (55.77% vs. 44.23%) for all cases. Alcohol poisoning was in first place for men 30-75 years, and voluntary poisoning for attempted suicide was first for women, except for those 30-46 years of age for whom alcohol was also number one. The large number of cases of recurrence were due to alcohol in men (791 cases) and to benzodiazepines in women (528 cases). CONCLUSIONS The number of cases and the type of poisoning varied according to hospital location, season, patient sex and patient age.