[Effect of age on medical complications in acute carbon monoxide poisoning]

The aim of the study was to compare the frequency and clinical course of carbon monoxide poisonings (early or delayed medical complication or death) regarding the age of patients. All symptoms which were not diagnosed on admission but occurred during first three weeks after carbon monoxide exposure were stated as early complication and after three weeks as delayed. A full recovery was noted in 61.8% of patients younger than 60 and only in 28.4% of patients older than 60 years (p < 0.01). The frequency of medical complications and number of deaths were significantly higher in the group of older persons. The toxic myocardial injury followed by respiratory tract inflammations were predominant early complications and a psychoorganic syndrome was a predominant late complication in the oldest group of CO poisoned patients.