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Presentation of poisoned patients to accident and emergency departments in the North of England

Wolfson Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle NE2 4HH

L. Bevan

Sunderland District General Hospital, Kayll Rd, Sunderland SR4 7TP

S. Bhattacharyya

Middleborough General Hospital, Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesborough TS5 5AZ

MG Bramble

Middleborough General Hospital, Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesborough TS5 5AZ

K. Chew

Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE4 6BE

J. Connolly

Middleborough General Hospital, Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesborough TS5 5AZ

B. Dorani

Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle NE4 6BE

KH Han

Middleborough General Hospital, Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesborough TS5 5AZ

JE Horner

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead NE9 6SX

A. Rodgers

Dryburn Hospital, North Road, Durham DH1 5TW

B. Sen

Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle NE1 4LP

B. Tesfayohannes

Sunderland District General Hospital, Kayll Rd, Sunderland SR4 7TP

H. Wynne

Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle NE1 4LP

DN Bateman

Wolfson Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle NE2 4HH

1 A 12 week prospective survey of all patients of any age with confirmed or suspected poisoning presenting to six accident and emergency departments in the North East of England was performed to establish the local incidence and patterns of presentation of poisoning.

2 945 episodes of poisoning involving 852 patients were recorded representing approximately 1.2% of all A&E presentations and suggesting an annual attendance rate of 2.7 per 1000 persons per year.

3 Attendance rates varied threefold between hospitals and were similar in males and females overall; between the ages of five and 14 attendances were more common in females (1.9 vs 0.6/10³/y) while between 0 and 4 y (3.1 vs 2.4) and 25 and 34 y (3.9 vs 2.9/10³/y) they were more common in males.

4 The median interval between poisoning and presenta tion was 2 h (mean 4.1 h) and only 19% of cases presented within 1 h. Presentation was most common between Friday evening and Tuesday morning and in the late afternoon and evening.

5 6% of the patients presented more than once with poisoning during the study period and 37% had a past history of deliberate self-harm. The most common poisons involved were paracetamol (43%), opioids (15%) and benzodiazepines (15%).

6 The study illustrates the frequency of presentations of poisoning to A&E departments. The high rate of poisoning in young men and the increasing use of paracetamol are particular causes for concern.

Key Words: poisoning • attendance rates • accident and emergency departments

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 15, No. 6, 466-470 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/096032719601500602


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