Eurasian Journal of Toxicology
Yazarlar: Özlem BİLİR, Alpaslan ÜNLÜ, Gökhan ERSUNAN, İsmail ATAŞ
Konular:Acil Tıp
Anahtar Kelimeler:Geriatric,Poisoning,Intentional,Unintentional,Suicide
Özet: 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.