Long‐term mortality and cause of death for patients treated in Intensive Care Units due to poisoning. Issue 4 (6th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lindqvist, Elin; Edman, Gunnar; Hollenberg, Jacob; Nordberg, Per; Forsberg, Sune
• Is Part Of: Acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica. Volume 63:Issue 4(2019:Apr.)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 505
• Publication Date: 2018-11-06
• Subjects: Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Critical care medicine -- Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1111/aas.13289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-5172

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Poisoned patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit are common, representing up to 6% of all ICU admissions. The in‐hospital mortality is generally low but little is known about the long‐term mortality in these patients. The aim of this study was to describe long‐term mortality and cause of death in patients treated in the ICU for poisoning. Method: A national observational study based on three registers: the National Patient Register, the Swedish Intensive Care Register and the Cause of Death Register. All patients ≥19 years admitted to a Swedish Intensive Care Unit between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 with an ICD‐10 code for poisoning were included. Results: A total of 6730 patients were included. The one‐year mortality was 4.5% (n = 303), with an overweight of men among the deceased (59.1%, P = 0.002). Patients aged 19‐39 years had a 48 times increased one‐year mortality compared to the age‐matched general population and 94% of these patients died from suicide and/or accident, of which 70% were from a new poisoning. The two‐year mortality was 7.2%. Women have a slightly higher overall long‐term survival over two years ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: The risk of premature death is markedly increased in younger patients one and two years after an ICU hospitalisation for non‐fatal poisoning compared to the general population. A large majority die due to a new poisoning incident despite a previously known recent severe poisoning. Editorial comment: Admission to ICU with poisoning, and particularly self‐poisoning, may be associated with long‐term mortaliity. In this study of 6730 patients admitted to a Swedish ICU for poisoning, the in‐hospital mortality was low for that admission, but there is an increased risk of later mortality in young patients one and two years after hospital discharge.