Toxicologic Exposures in California Emergency Departments in 2011 and Its Risk Factors

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Toxicologic exposures (TE) represent a significant, preventable public health concern, primarily stemming from unintentional incidents.
• While national data systems document poisonings, emergency department (ED) specific data on TE remains limited.
• Understanding at-risk demographics in the ED setting is crucial for targeted prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific demographic groups at higher risk for toxicologic exposures presenting to emergency departments.
• To analyze the prevalence of TE across various age, racial, and socioeconomic strata within the ED population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Data from the California State Emergency Department Database (SEDD) for the year 2011 were utilized for statistical analysis.
• Analysis included over 10 million ED visits.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of TE was 383.4 per 100,000 ED visits.
• TE was most prevalent in children under 10 years old and males.
• Native American females aged 10-19 exhibited a notably high prevalence of TE (1,464.4 per 100,000).
• Higher prevalence was also observed in higher median income households and among individuals with a history of substance use.

Conclusions:

• Toxicologic exposure cases in EDs disproportionately affect specific age, race/ethnicity groups, and individuals with substance use disorders.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted preventive and educational strategies focusing on identified high-risk demographic groups.
• Further research may be needed to understand the general population's association with these factors.