Clinical Profile, Treatment Approaches, and Outcomes of Acute Poisoning Cases: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning is a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to toxic substances is widespread, and regulatory oversight is limited. This study aimed to examine the clinical profile, treatment modalities, and outcomes of acute poisoning cases in a tertiary care setting in Bangladesh. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at Satkhira Medical College Hospital from January 2023 to January 2025. All patients admitted with confirmed acute poisoning were included, excluding those with chronic poisoning or incomplete records. Data were extracted from hospital records and included sociodemographic information, poisoning specifics, clinical parameters, treatment approaches, and outcomes. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed using STATA version 17. Results: Among 169 patients, the mean age was 22 years (IQR: 18–33), with the majority aged 18–40 years (57.6%). Females comprised 55.6% of the cohort. Suicidal intent accounted for 96.5% of cases. The most frequently involved agents were organophosphates (24.4%), corrosives (22.0%), and sedatives (17.3%), with oral ingestion being the dominant route (95.2%). Nephrotoxicity (26.7%), hepatotoxicity (20.4%), and neurotoxicity (13.4%) were commonly observed. All cases were managed conservatively. Complete recovery was achieved in 86.8% of patients, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 11.5%. Multivariate analysis identified older age (AOR: 1.05; p = 0.034), male sex (AOR: 4.29; p = 0.029), delayed hospital presentation (AOR: 1.54; p = 0.014), and organ dysfunction (AOR: 36.07; p < 0.001) as significant predictors of poor outcomes. Conclusion: Young adults, particularly females, represent the majority of poisoning cases, with organophosphates and corrosives being the most common agents. Despite high rates of intentional poisoning, conservative treatment yielded favorable outcomes in most cases.