Evaluation of Suicidal Poisoning Cases Admitted to Emergency Units of Assuit University Hospitals, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Suicide by poisoning has become a critical health problem. This accounts for a substantial percentage of suicidal cases globally, up to 85 % - 95 % of suicide-related hospital admissions. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, the associated risk factors of suicidal poisoning, and their outcome. Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 303 cases were admitted to Assiut University Hospital's emergency units between 1st January and 31st December 2020. The following data were collected from admitted cases: sociodemographic data, type of used poison, the severity of cases as evaluated by poisoning severity score, motivation behind suicide and the outcomes of suicide attempts. Results: Among 1200 poisoning cases admitted in the year 2020, prevalence of suicidal poisoning was 25.25% and was common in the age group 7 to 20 years old (49.2%). Females outnumbered males. The bulk of cases (66%) occurred in rural areas, with singles accounting for 70%, non-working people reported in 41.5% of cases, and the most common reason for suicide was familial agony, followed by financial concerns. Pesticides were the most commonly utilized toxin (69.6%); the first blamed agent was aluminum phosphide. Poisoning severity score grade 1 was recorded in 51.8%, and the cure rate was 72.6 % versus 22.8 % mortality rate which was mainly due to aluminum phosphide in addition to 4.6% had an unclear prognosis. Conclusion: Suicidal poisoning, as a public health concern, requires more attention in order to determine proper preventive events because it primarily affects young females who are experiencing familial distress for threatening their families and committing suicide by ingesting aluminum phosphide tables, which have a high fatality rate.