CLINICAL PROFILE AND OUTCOMES OF ACUTE POISONING CASES IN THE EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE DEPARTMENT

Abstract

Acute poisoning is a critical public health issue globally, contributing to a substantial number of emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and avoidable mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes data from 15 observational studies across high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), focusing on the clinical profile and outcomes of acute poisoning cases. The review provides pooled estimates of mortality, ICU admission, and length of stay, as well as insights into the regional variations in poisoning agents, demographic patterns, and prognostic factors. Results show that while mortality is low in HICs (<1%) due to drug overdoses, LMICs report higher mortality (11-18%) predominantly due to pesticide exposure. The study highlights the heterogeneity in study designs and outcome reporting, which complicates direct comparison and meta-analysis. The findings underscore the need for standardized outcome definitions and case classifications, improved poison-control systems in LMICs, and enhanced mental health interventions to reduce intentional poisoning cases. This study provides valuable recommendations for future research and clinical practice to address the global burden of acute poisoning.