Diferencias en las intoxicaciones de los españoles y los extranjeros atendidas en urgencias

• Autores: Carlos Clemente Rodríguez, José Luis Echarte Pazos, Alfonso Aguirre Tejedo, Isabel Puente Palacios, María Luisa Iglesias Lepine, Augusto Supervía Caparrós
• Localización: Emergencias: Revista de la Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias, ISSN 1137-6821, Vol. 23, Nº. 4, 2011, págs. 271-275
• Idioma: español
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Differences in poisoning cases according to patient�s place of origin
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen
  • español

    Fundamento: Comparar las características de las intoxicaciones atendidas en urgencias según el país de procedencia del intoxicado.

    Métodos: Estudio durante los años 2003 y 2004. Se recogió filiación, tipo y lugar de la intoxicación, tratamiento administrado y destino. Se compararon las características según la procedencia del intoxicado (ESP, español; EXT, extranjeros; EO, Europa occidental;

    LAT, Latinoamérica; NA, norte de África).

    Resultados: Se completó la información en 1.287 intoxicaciones. La edad media inferior en el grupo EXT (29,6 vs 35,8; p < 0,001). Se encontró diferencias en el porcentaje de hombres entre los distintos grupos (NA: 74,5%, EO: 62,9%, ESP: 55,3% y LAT: 47,9%;

    p = 0,023). ESP presentó más intoxicaciones suicidas (29,8% vs 20,7) y menos recreativas (62,3% vs 72,1%) (p = 0,007). EXT se intoxicó más en lugares públicos (68,1% vs 53,2%) y ESP en domicilio (44,4% vs 28,3%) (p < 0,001). ESP presentó más intoxicaciones previas (50,7% vs 30,4%; p < 0,001) y antecedentes psiquiátricos (58,3% vs 31,6%; p < 0,001) y más intoxicaciones por fármacos, solos o asociados a alcohol (24,2% vs 14,5; p = 0,001 y 8,7 vs 4,3; p = 0,017). En cambio, EXT se intoxicó más con alcohol y productos domésticos (34,1 vs 24,4; p = 0,001 y 5,1 vs 2,2; p = 0,01). Se realizó valoración psiquiátrica urgente en el 38,3% de ESP y en el 22,8% EXT (p < 0,001). Se encontraron diferencias en el porcentaje de descontaminaciones digestivas (13,2% ESP vs 6,9% EXT; p = 0,008). ESP precisó más ingresos (10,8% vs 5,1%; p = 0,004) y más estancias en urgencias superiores a 12 horas (25,6% vs 16,4%; p = 0,008). LAT mostró un comportamiento muy similar a ESP.

    Conclusiones: Los extranjeros presentan más intoxicaciones en lugares públicos, por alcohol y productos domésticos, y tienen mayor porcentaje de intención recreativa, menos intoxicaciones previas y antecedentes psiquiátricos, menos ingresos y estancias prolongadas en urgencias y menos consultas urgentes con psiquiatría. [Emergencias 2011;23:271-275]

  • English

    Objective: To study the characteristics of poisoning cases treated in a hospital emergency department according to patient�s place of birth.

    Methods: In 2003 and 2004 for all poisoning cases we collected data on patients� country of origin, type and place of poisoning, treatment, and destination on discharge. Variables were compared according to national origin: Spanish vs other places of origin, specifically Eastern Europea (EE), Latin America (LA), or North Africa (NA).

    Results: Data on 1287 poisoning cases were available. Non-Spanish emergency poisoning patients were younger than Spanish patients (29.6 vs 35.8 years, P<.001). The percentages of men in each group were different as follows: NA, 74.5%; EE, 62.9%, Spanish, 55.3%, and LA, 47.9% (P=.023). More Spanish poisoning cases were related to attempted suicide (29.8% vs 20.7% in other groups) rather than use of recreational drugs (62.3% of Spaniards vs 72.1% of others) (P=.007). Non-Spanish patients were poisoned more often in public places (68.1% vs 53.2% of Spanish cases), while Spanish patients� poisonings occurred more often in the home (44.4% vs 28.3%) (P<.001). It was more common for Spanish patients to have been poisoned on previous occasions (50.7% vs 30.4% of others, P<.001) and to have a history of mental illness (58.3% vs 31.6% of others; P<.001). Spanish patients had more drug overdoses, of a single drug (24.2% vs 14.5% of others, P=.001) or of a drug in association with alcohol (8.7% vs 4.3% of others, P=.017). Patients from other countries were more often poisoned by alcohol overdose (34.1% vs 24.4% of Spaniards, P=.001) or by home cleaning products (5.1% vs 2.2% of Spaniards, P=.01). A psychiatric evaluation was made for 38.3% of the Spanish nationals and 22.8% of the foreign nationals (P<.001). The rates of gastrointestinal decontamination were also different (Spanish, 13.2% vs other, 6.9%; P=.008). Spanish patients had to be admitted more often (10.5% vs 5.1% of others, P=.004) and more often had prolonged stays in the emergency department (25.6% vs 16.4% of others, P=.008). The Spanish and LA patient profiles were similar.

    Conclusions: Poisonings of patients from countries other than Spain more often occurred in public places and were caused by alcohol or home cleaning products or recreational drugs. Poisoning patients born in other countries were less likely to have a history of prior poisoning or mental illness and were less often admitted, kept for prolonged periods in the emergency department, or evaluated by a psychiatrist. [Emergencias 2011;23:271-275]