Pattern of acute poisonings in Azerbaijan

Background: Epidemiologic data on acute chemical poisonings in Azerbaijan Republic is very limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the rate and characteristics of acute chemical poisoning cases in Azerbaijan. Material and methods: This investigation was performed on the data of poisoned patients admitted to the Center of Clinical Toxicology (CCT) of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan in Baku city from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2016. Result: There were 6347 admissions due to acute poisoning in CCT intensive care unit (3593 females and 2754 males). Pediatric admissions (<15 age group) were 18.2%. The most frequent reason of hospitalizations was drug poisonings (T36-T50) – 40.9%. The other frequent cases of hospitalizations were inhalation of carbon monoxide (T58) - 21.6%, corrosive substances (T54) – 15.2% and alcohol intoxication (T51) - 5.9%. Hospitalizations of patients with envenomation (T63) - 5.2%, pesticides poisonings (T60) – 4.9%. poisoning by organic solvents (T52) - 4.5% and poisoning by noxious plants and mushrooms (T62) – 1.2% were less frequent. The mortality rate of the overall cohort was 2.7%. Corrosive liquids (especially – concentrated acetic acid) poisonings were the most often fatal. Conclusion: This study provides essential information about characteristic of toxicoepidemiological situation in Azerbaijan and could help to develop national program of prevention of acute chemical poisonings.