Risk Factors for Utilization of Acute Care Services for Lithium Toxicity

Objective:This study evaluated risk factors for utilization of acute care services (ACS) (hospitalization or emergency department or urgent care visit) for lithium toxicity and the prevalence of lithium toxicity in a large, ambulatory population.Methods:A nested case-control study compared lithium users with ACS utilization for lithium toxicity (case group) to lithium users without toxicity (control group) by using data from Kaiser Permanente Colorado for patients with at least one lithium prescription purchase. Patients in the case group were matched 1:5 with patients in the control group who had purchased lithium within 39 days of the ACS encounter. Possible lithium toxicity, identified by lithium level or diagnosis, was confirmed by chart review. Multivariable, conditional logistic regression analysis was used to identify patient and prescription characteristics associated with ACS utilization for lithium toxicity. The prevalence of lithium toxicity was determined.Results:Of 3,115 individuals who took ...