Predicting outcome of acute organophosphorus poisoning using poison severity score in patients presenting at a university hospital in Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Poisoning is a major public health threats in the agriculture based country where people have easy access to the organophosphate (OP) pesticides and herbicides. Aim of the study is to analyze morbidity and mortality (outcome) of OP poisoning using Poison Severity Score (PSS).

Methods: The study was reviewed and approved by International Review Board on 31 August 2016. This cross-sectional study included patients aged 16 years or above who presented with ingestion of OP in emergency of Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, from September 2016 to April 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical profile of the patients, incidence of OP compounds poisoning, and morbidity and mortality were analyzed using PSS.

Results: There were 210 OP poisoning cases. 194 (92.38%) survived. Female were 143 (68.10%) and male 67 (31.90%). The mean age was 34.81 years (16 years to 85 years). Poison Severity Score (PSS) and length of hospital stay were significantly different between OP survivors (92.38%) and dead cases (7.62%), p-value <0.0001.

Conclusions: Poison severity score was useful in recognizing high-risk patients of OP poisoning in our study.