Poisoning in the elderly. An increasing problem for health care providers.

Crises related to older persons such as failing health, death of a spouse, and retirement may all be contributing factors responsible for increasing numbers of poisonings reported annually in the United States. A one-year retrospective analysis of poison exposures of persons 60 years of age and older revealed 75.2% were due to accidental circumstances compared to 87.4% of the total accidental cases. Intentional poisoning in the elderly was 20.6% contrasted to 11.3%. Adverse reactions to various products and drugs accounted for 2.0% in older persons as compared to 0.6% of total adverse reactions. Route of exposure in elderly poisonings contrasted by the total percent shows ingestion 71.4% versus 80.3%, inhalation 14.8% versus 5.2%, ocular contamination 5.3% versus 6.8%, and dermal exposure 5.2% versus 5.9%. Females aged 60 and over accounted for 63.4% as opposed to 46.7% of total female poisonings. Elderly males were 36.4% compared to 51.3% total males. Home management occurred in 39.1% of the elderly exposures as compared to 68.9% total poisonings managed at home. Medical intervention was needed in 56.0% of these older persons versus 29.8% of the total referred to health care facilities. Elderly admissions of 50.7% assimilates to 49.6% of total. Health care professionals must be cognizant of problems associated with poisoning in the elderly in order to develop strategies for prevention solutions.