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. 2014 Jan-Apr;37(1):99-108.
doi: 10.4321/s1137-66272014000100011.

[Acute poisoning in patients over 65 years of age]

[Article in Spanish]
P Miranda Arto  1 , A Ferrer Dufol, F J Ruiz Ruiz, S Menao Guillén, E Civeira Murillo
Affiliations
Free article

[Acute poisoning in patients over 65 years of age]

[Article in Spanish]
P Miranda Arto et al. An Sist Sanit Navar. 2014 Jan-Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Background: There are few Spanish studies on acute poisoning in the elderly despite the associated risk factors of this group of patients.

Material and methods: Retrospective descriptive study of acute poisonings treated in the Emergency Service of the University Hospital of Zaragoza from 1995 to 2009 on patients 65 years old or older.

Results: A total of 762 patients were selected in the study (4.74% of all acute poisonings) with a mean age of 74.16 (SD ± 6) years. Ingestion was the major route of exposure (85%) and alcohol overdose (28,7%) was the most frequent type of poisoning. A trend was also observed showing a lower emetic treatment and gastric lavage and an increase in activated charcoal. Benzodiazepines (14.3%) and toxic household products (11%) with caustic properties were also the main toxics found in the study.

Conclusions: Acute poisonings in the elderly required more hospitalizations, have a higher mortality and more autolytic attempts which result in death.

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