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. 2021 Dec;29(2):367-376.
doi: 10.1007/s40199-021-00418-4. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

Toxic alcohol poisoning characteristics and treatments from 2000 to 2017 at a United States regional poison center

Christopher Hoyte  1 , Jonathan Schimmel  2 , Ali Hadianfar  3 , Shireen Banerji  4 , Samaneh Nakhaee  5 , Omid Mehrpour  6   7
Affiliations

Toxic alcohol poisoning characteristics and treatments from 2000 to 2017 at a United States regional poison center

Christopher Hoyte et al. Daru. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Toxic alcohol exposures are an ongoing concern in the United States. In the US, few studies characterize the local epidemiology of toxic alcohols over time.

Objectives: The objective was to examine the incidence of toxic alcohol ingestions and changes in management over time.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluates toxic alcohol ingestion phone calls to a regional poison center in the United States covering four states. Data were queried for this poison center from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) using generic codes for each toxic alcohol. Inclusion criteria were ingestion of toxic alcohol, age ≥ 13 years, from January 1, 2000 to Dec 31, 2017. Exclusion criteria were unrelated effects coded in the medical outcome, duplicate data, or incomplete demographic data.

Results: Of 926 subjects (adults and teenagers), 71.5% were male, and the mean age was 34.5 years. Toxic alcohol ingestion was more common in individuals younger than 40 years, with a significant relationship between age and intentional abuse or misuse (p = 0.001). There was also a significant relationship between age and reason for ingestion, with younger patients more likely to be suicidal (p < 0.001). Ethyleneglycol was the most common toxic alcohol. There was no change in the incidence of toxic alcohol ingestions over the study period. The mortality rate was 1.7%, and 31.2%of patients were hospitalized in a critical care unit. Major effects and death were more common in younger patients (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in medical outcomes based on the type of toxic alcohol(p = 0.03). Fomepizole was the most common treatment. A Poisson regression model found no change in fomepizole use during the study period (p = 0.1). Ethanol administration over the study period increased (p = 0.02), while hemodialysis decreased (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Data obtained from a single regional United States poison center showed low mortality related to toxic alcohol ingestions. The most prevalent toxic alcohol was Ethylene glycol. In all cases, toxic alcohol ingestion was higher in the 20-29-year-old age group. Reasons for ingestion, in most cases, were suicidal. Fomepizole was the most common treatment, ethanol administration as an antidote is rising, and hemodialysis utilization is decreasing. Data may not be nationally representative.

Keywords: Ethanol; Ethylene glycol; Fomepizole; Methanol; Toxic alcohol; United States.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of subject inclusion
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Trended incidence of proportions of each ingested toxic alcohol relative to total cases of toxic alcohol ingestions per year reported to a regional poison center in the United States over 18 years (2000-2017). P-values are based on Poisson regression
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Trends in the use of fomepizole, ethanol, and hemodialysis for ingested toxic alcohol poisoning at a regional poison center in the United States over 18 years (2000-2017). P values are based on Poisson regression
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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