Neelkant S. Patil1, Shodhan Raghuram Aithal2, Hemamalini Gururaj3
BACKGROUND
Poisoning is a major healthcare issue in our country. There is a recent increase in
trend of non-OP compound usage. We wanted to study the socio-demographic,
and clinical profile in terms of outcome with different poisons.
METHODS
A total of 100 patients were included in this retrospective study conducted in
tertiary care hospital in Northern Karnataka. Data was collected and analysed
using pre-structured questionnaire regarding demographic details, mode of
poisoning, precipitating factors, duration of hospitalization, and final outcome.
Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were done to find the association
between the two attributes. Odds ratio was also calculated. P < 0.05 was
considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS
Mean age of the study population was 31.48 years. Majority of the study
population was females (63 %, N = 63), homemakers or students (32 % each),
illiterates (68 %) and married (62 %). Mode of poisoning was suicidal in 78 % of
the patients. Among the compounds used for poisoning, non-OP compoundespecially
pharmaceutical drugs accounted for 40 % of the cases. Mean duration
of hospital stay was 5 days and 16 % had prolonged hospitalisation. Family fight,
depression, and consumption of ethanol at the time of poisoning were the common
precipitating factors. Mortality was 3 %. Homemakers and students (χ2 = 4.33, df
= 1, OR = 3.33, 95 % CI = 1.02-10.7, P < 0.05), unmarried individuals (χ2 =
5.31, df = 1, OR = 3.75, 95 % CI = 1.16 - 12.1, P < 0.05) and teetotallers (χ2 =
18.94, df =1, OR=11, 95 % CI = 3.26 - 37, P < 0.05) had higher proportion of
non-OP compound consumption and this was statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
Educational awareness and regulation of drug availability over the counter, to
prevent such emergencies, is essential. Awareness of good mental health and
support systems has to be publicised to prevent the precipitating factors.
