Patterns of Toxicities Before, During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study at Poison Control Center - Ain Shams University Hospitals | ||||
Ain Shams Journal of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology | ||||
Volume 41, Issue 2, July 2023, Page 63-78 PDF (1.64 MB) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/ajfm.2023.310233 | ||||
View on SCiNiTO | ||||
Authors | ||||
Soha Ashry1; Gihan Azab2; Aya Abdellatif 3; Aya Khater1 | ||||
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
2-Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. -Director of Poison Control Center, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
3Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected global health systems and has influenced patterns of disease worldwide. Aim: The current study aims to analyze the patterns of toxicities before, during, and after the pandemic at Poison Control Center (PCC) Ain Shams University Hospitals, identifying any changes and their persistence after the pandemic. Methods: A retrospective observational study using PCC's database of patients admitted from January 1st 2019 to December 31st 2022. Results: Over four years, the center managed to service large number of patients peaking to 21,107 patients were hospitalized, in 2022. Most admissions were adults comprising 57.24% in 2019 to 62.14% in 2022. Females represented 54.77% of admissions in 2019 declining to 52.69% in 2020 and rising to 55.61% in 2022. Pharmaceutical poisoning accounted for 26.85% in 2019 and 27.13% in 2020 declining to 20.53% in 2022. Substance abuse, the second most common diagnosis in 2019 with 13.79% prevailed in 2022 with 21.38%. Improvement was the prevalent outcome with increase in demand leave and referral toward 2022. Gender and age significantly affected diagnoses and outcomes. Conclusion and Recommendations: This study concluded that the pandemic-related lockdowns and subsequent easing of restrictions resulted in behavioral, substance exposure and use changes. Some changes faded with the pandemic‟s end, while others persisted and new behaviors became the norm. Urgent responses from healthcare providers and policymakers are needed, emphasizing mental health support and substance misuse initiatives, especially for vulnerable age groups. Received in original form: 14 July 2023 Accepted in a final form: 30 July 2023 | ||||
Keywords | ||||
COVID-19; pandemic; poisoning; toxicity | ||||
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