Table 1.
Lithium intoxication episodes – basic characteristics.
| All | Episodes with lithium serum levels between 1.5 and 2.5 mmol/L | Episodes with lithium serum levels >2.5 mmol/L | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 91 | 72 | 19 |
| Age | |||
| Mean age (SD; range) | 54.3 (17.9; 22–86) | 56.4 (17.5; 22–86) | 46.3 (17.5; 22–78)* |
| ⩾65 years, n (%) | 31 (34.1) | 28 (38.9) | 3 (15.8)* |
| Sex | |||
| Male, n (%) | 29 (31.9) | 23 (31.9) | 6 (31.6) |
| Female, n (%) | 62 (68.1)*** | 49 (68.1)*** | 13 (68.4) |
| Mode | |||
| Acute, n (%) | 24 (26.4) | 14 (19.4) | 10 (52.6)* |
| Chronic, n (%) | 54 (59.3) | 46 (63.9) | 8 (42.1)* |
| Unknown, n (%) | 13 (14.3) | 12 (16.7) | 1 (5.3) |
| Treatment | |||
| ICU, n (%) | 31 (34.1) | 16 (22.2) | 15 (78.9)** |
| Haemodialysis, n (%) | 12 (13.2) | 4 (5.6) | 8 (42.1)** |
*
p<0.05 between groups; **p<0.01 between groups; ***p<0.01 within groups.
ICU: intensive care unit.