Epidemiological Study of Poisoning in Patients of Karaj Shariati Hospital in 2011 to 2012

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the most problems of health systems in the world. The aims of this study are evaluation of demographic characteristics and causes of poisonings in patients referred to Karaj Shariati hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study was done in one year. With a non-probability convenience sampling, all of poisoning patients admitted in Karaj Shariati hospital from June 2011 to June 2012 were studied. Data collected from patients records and then analyzed. Results: One hundred seventy two drug poisoning patients with mean age of 29.8 (SD=13.4) years evaluated. The most common drugs which caused poisoning were: Benzodiazepines, Tramadol, Psychiatry drugs and Acetaminophen. 12.8 percent of patients had drug-induced seizure and mortality rate was 5.8 %. There was a relation between Tramadol poisoning and drug-induced seizure (p value=0.000, Odds Ratio=12.8, 95%Confidence of Interval (4.7-34.8)). Conclusion: This study showed that Tramadol poisoning prevalence is high and opiates are the most common cause of death in drug poisonings, which show need to more educations in schools and addiction-disuse centers and more controls on pharmacies.