Acute poisonings in Croatia: differences in epidemiology, associated comorbidities and final outcomes – a single-centre 15-year follow-up

AbstractPurpose: To determine the demographic and social characteristics of acutely intoxicated patients in the emergency department (ED), intention of drug/chemical intake, main toxic agents, outcomes and time trends for all variables.Methods: This prospective, observational study included acutely intoxicated patients treated in the ED of the University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia, during the years 2001, 2010 and 2015. The diagnosis was derived from patient’s self-report, clinical observations and laboratory test results (quantitative test for serum ethanol levels and qualitative tests for drugs in urine).Results: A total of 1593 patients were enrolled in the study (331 in 2001, 618 in 2010, 644 in 2015), with a predominance of men (55.9%, 65.2%, 70.7%, respectively). The median age was 28 [18–89], 39 [18–92] and 40 years [18–95], respectively. There was a decline in the number of suicide attempts during the study (46.2%, 22.2%, 17.1% of patients, respectively) with a predominance...