Hospital-based analysis of drug poisoning cases: Trends and risk factors

Objective:The epidemiology of drug poisoning is an essential field of study in public health research that explores the many aspects of this urgent problem. Accidental poisoning is the third most common cause of death and the fifth most common reason for hospital visits in several developing countries. Pharmaceutical poisoning is the second most common cause of hospital admissions and deaths in Iran, where unintentional poisoning remains a serious health concern. This research aims to thoroughly investigate all aspects of drug poisoning cases using epidemiological analysis. Methods: This study analyzed the records of 701 consecutive patients at Shiraz Faghihi hospital Medical Emergency Center in Iran between April 1 and September 30, 2022. Poisoning diagnosis was determined based on reports and documents. Data were collected from patient medical records and analyzed using SPSS software, with a significance level set at P<0.05. The chi-square test was used to compare the means of drug-posing variables and demographic variables. Results: This study reviewed 701 cases, with an average age of 35.02±16.104 (P<0.001), 45.8% of whom had education levels higher than high school (P=0.012). The majority (66.6%) had no psychiatric history (P<0.001), and 55.6% had no history of addiction (P<0.001). The predominant poisoning agent was opium (48.9%), followed by benzodiazepine poisoning (40.2%). About 10% were attributed to other causes. A mortality rate of 3.4% was observed, and 96.6% of the cases survived. Conclusion: The study underscores the crucial importance of addressing drug usage for both prevention and therapy. Additionally, the revelation that medicines often serve as the primary source of toxicity, particularly in developing countries, emphasizes the high accessibility and potential hazards associated with these medications.