A Cross-Sectional Study on Effect of Serum Potassium Level on Clinical Profile and Outcome in Organophosphorus Poisoning

Background: Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are commonly used as toxic agents due to their easy availability and low cost. The rising mortality in OP poisoning cases is influenced by multiple factors, one of which is hypokalaemia. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of OP poisoning and examine its relationship with potassium levels. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary care hospital in Central Gujarat. All the patients above the age of 12 years admitted to the emergency department during the study period were included in the study. Peradeniya Organophosphorus poisoning scale (POP) was used to categorise the severity of the cases. Association was observed between outcome with potassium level and other relevant clinical parameters with appropriate statistical test. p-value less 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: A study of 100 patients found that most (97%) consumed organophosphates (OP) in suicide attempts, with monocrotophos being the most common (28%). Over half were aged 19–45, and two-thirds were male. Only 33% arrived directly from home, while others were referred from healthcare facilities. Vomiting (78%) was the most frequent symptom, and most arrived within eight hours. Based on the POP score, 68% had mild poisoning. While 76 recovered, 34 needed ventilators, and 24 died. Hypokalaemia (56%) was significantly associated with outcomes such as recovered vs dead and no of patients required ventilatory support. Conclusion: Hypokalaemia at the time of presentation has detrimental effect on clinical outcome as it increases requirement of ventilator support.