Table 1.
Characteristics and outcomes of acute poisoning patients in Pakistan from November 2010 to March 2011 in seven major tertiary care Emergency Departments of Pakistan
| Variables | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Age (n = 211) | ||
| < 5 years | 4 | 1.9 |
| 5-14 years | 21 | 10.0 |
| 15-24 years | 58 | 27.5 |
| 25-44 years | 87 | 41.2 |
| 45-64 years | 34 | 16.1 |
| 65+ years | 7 | 3.3 |
| Gender (n = 217) | ||
| Male | 148 | 68 |
| Female | 69 | 31.8 |
| Mode of arrival (n = 197) | ||
| Ambulance | 14 | 7.1 |
| Non ambulance | 183 | 92.8 |
| Type of hospital (n = 233) | ||
| Public hospital | 223 | 95.7 |
| Private hospital | 10 | 4.3 |
| Intent of injury (n = 135) | ||
| Unintentional | 68 | 50.4 |
| Self-poisoned | 26 | 19.3 |
| Poisoned by someone else | 41 | 30.4 |
| Types of services used and reasons for discharge* (n = 181) | ||
| Only ED (proper discharge) | 63 | 34.8 |
| Ward admission | 20 | 11.0 |
| ICU/HDU admission | 1 | .6 |
| Observation unit | 19 | 10.5 |
| Follow-up | 58 | 32.0 |
| Died | 12 | 6.6 |
| Others(LAMA/LWBS/Referred out) | 8 | 4.4 |
| Type of care provider*(n = 193) | ||
| Paramedic | 84 | 43.5 |
| House officer/intern | 72 | 37.3 |
| PG trainee/Resident | 19 | 9.8 |
| Medical Officer | 132 | 68.4 |
| Nurse/midwife | 129 | 66.8 |
| Attending physician | 5 | 2.6 |
| Category of Poison ingested (n = 233) | ||
| Drug/Medicine | 63 | 27.0 |
| Alcohol | 39 | 16.7 |
| Chemicals/Gases and Vapours | 102 | 43.8 |
| Food/Plants | 14 | 6.0 |
| Others | 15 | 6.4 |
LAMA = Left against medical advice
ICU/HDU= Intensive care unit/High Dependency Unit
LWBS = Left without being seen
*(Multiple response variable)