ABSTRACT
Epidemiologic data on acute chemical poisonings in South Caucasus region are extremely limited. The purpose of this joint prospective study was evaluation and analyzes the rate and characteristics of acute chemical poisoning cases in Azerbaijan and Georgia. This investigation was performed on data of poisoned patients admitted to Republican Toxicology Center of Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan in Baku city and poisoned patients admitted to medical hospitals in Tbilisi (Georgia) from 1st January to 31st December, 2007. Total were 1182 hospitalizations in Republican Toxicology Center's (RTC) intensive care unit and 1646 poisoned patients admitted to medical hospitals in Tbilisi (Georgia). The mean lengths of hospitalization were 3.2 days in Azerbaijan and 1.2 days in Georgia. Acute intoxications were more frequent amount males (51% in Azerbaijan to 67% in Georgia) and in 20-40 age group. Among the pharmaceuticals poisonings by antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs (T42) and poisonings by psychotropic drugs (T43) were the most frequent. The other cases of poisonings were inhalation of carbon monoxide (T58) - 173 hospitalization in Azerbaijan and 77 hospitalization in Georgia; toxic effect of alcohol (T51) - 50 admissions in Azerbaijan and 697 admissions in Georgia; poisoning by narcotics and psychodysleptics (T40) - 50 cases in Azerbaijan and 36 cases in Georgia; toxic effect of corrosive substances (T54) 176 patients in Azerbaijan to 56 patients in Georgia; toxic effect of pesticides (T60) - 39 patients in Azerbaijan to 11 patients in Georgia; toxic effect of contact with venomous animals (T63) - 70 patients in Azerbaijan to 23 patients in Georgia and toxic effect of other noxious substances eaten as food (T62) - 7 patients in Azerbaijan to 85 patients in Georgia The mortality rates were 3.1% in Azerbaijan and 0.74% in Georgia. Corrosive liquids (especially - concentrated acetic acid) poisonings were most often fatal (41% of total mortality) in Azerbaijan and alcohol poisonings were most often fatal (38% of total mortality) in Georgia. These data provide important preliminary information about toxicoepidemiological situation in South Caucasus countries and could help to develop program of chemical safety and prevention of acute chemical poisonings in this region.
