Presentations of Patients of Poisoning and Predictors of Poisoning-Related Fatality: Findings From a Hospital-Based Prospective Study

Using 1512 subjects from a hospital-based study in Taiwan, the authors sought to describe the demographic & clinical characteristics of poisoning patients & to identify predictors for poisoning-related fatality. Interviews were conducted with patients within 24 hours after admission. The cases involved 828 women & 684 men with a mean age of 38.8 years. 63 fatalities occurred. The significant predictors for fatality included age over 61 years, insufficient respiration, shock status, abnormal heart rate & body temperature, suicidal intent, & paraquat exposure. (48 refs.)