Poisoning cases in Catalonia: characteristics according to age groups in the Intox.28 study

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Poisoning is a significant public health concern with varying demographics.
• Understanding age-related differences in poisoning is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare poisoning case characteristics across three distinct age groups: minors, adults (17-65), and older adults (>65).
• To identify age-specific patterns in poisoning types, locations, and treatment received.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive observational study (Intox-28) was conducted from 2013-2019.
• Data from 1088 poisoning cases were collected from 8 hospital emergency departments.
• Cases were categorized into minors (<17), adults (17-65), and older adults (>65).

Main Results:

• Minors showed higher rates of female gender, home-based poisonings, and medication-related incidents compared to younger adults.
• Minors were less likely to receive treatment compared to adults.
• Older adults had similar treatment rates to younger adults, but specific poisoning characteristics were not detailed for this group in the abstract.

Conclusions:

• Poisoning characteristics, including gender, intentionality, and poison type, significantly vary by age.
• Age-specific data is essential for developing effective poisoning prevention and management strategies.