Evaluation of Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit with Drug Intoxication: Retrospective Analysis of 203 Patients

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of acute drug intoxication patients admitted to the emergency and Intensive Care Unit for follow-up and treatment.
METHODS: The records of the patients who were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit with the diagnosis of acute drug intoxication between 01.01.2018 and 01.01.2023 in the XXX Training and Research Hospital were scanned from the hospital data system.
RESULTS: A total of 203 patients (77 men and 126 women) were included in the study. The mean age was found to be 30.83±12.12. The number of patients who had suicidal intoxication was 183 (90%). It was determined that the most common agents of drug intoxication were analgesics (n=94, 46%), antidepressants (n=59, 29%), and antibiotic drugs (n=19, 9.4%). There was a history of depression in 113 (56%) of the patients. The median(IQR) GCS of the cases at the time of admission was 15 (0), and the mean APACHE II Score was 2.16±4.22. A significant relationship was detected between low GCS and increased APACHE II Scores and prolonged stays in the Intensive Care Unit.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was determined that acute drug intoxications occur to commit suicide with rapidly accessible drugs such as analgesics and antidepressants. It is considered that it would be more appropriate to follow-up patients who do not have an indication for Intensive Care Unit hospitalization in emergency departments or wards in terms of improving capacity management.