[Selected data concerning acute intoxications with xenobiotics in Poland in the year 2009].

BACKGROUND

There are no reliable studies in Poland evaluating the amount of acute intoxications by drugs, chemical substances, animal venom, plant toxins.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to evaluate selected problems referring to intoxicated patients, who were given medical treatment in all hospitals having contract with National Fund of Health in 2009.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All medical interventions, in which the main diagnosis were coded as T36-T65 (with four-character subcategories) according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision, were involved to the study. Also all poisonings with those codes put as comorbidities and positively verified by the authors, were included to the analysis.

RESULTS

There were 85 398 acute intoxications in Poland in 2009. In 42 002 cases there were no need of further hospital treatment. Ethanol poisonings were the most common diagnosis among patients treated in the Emergency Departments. Intoxication with drugs were dominant among patients admitted to hospitals. The average hospitalization in Toxicology Centers lasted 3,6 days while in other hospitals about 3 days. There is the high percentage of discharges on "patient's demand" (about 13% of all hospitalizations). In Toxicological Units this kind of discharges reaches up to 19%. In 2009 there were 491 deaths because of acute intoxications. It presents 1.13% of all hospitalizations. It's worth to indicate that the mortality rate in critical care departments has reached the level of 14.41%, while in Toxicology Centers the mortality rate was 1.13% in all cases and less than 4% in most severe poisonings.

CONCLUSIONS

1. In Poland, as it is in other countries, the national toxicological information and control system should be brought into being. The system should be based on existing Toxicology Centers. 2. Taking into consideration the high mortality rate outside the Toxicological Units, there is a need nurses and other medical staff. 3. It's necessary to monitor permanently diagnostics, treatment and mortality rate of intoxicated patients in Poland.