Aftab Ahmed, Lutuf Ali, Lal Shehbaz, Shua Nasir, Syed Raza Hussain Rizvi, Muhammad Zaeghum Aman, Zain Ali.
Prevalence and characteristics of organophosphate poisoning at a tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan.
Pak J Surg Jan ;32(4):269-73.

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the various factors that affect the morbidity and mortality in patients who present with organophosphates poisoning at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi Pakistan. Method: The type of study is a cross sectional observational study, conducted for a period of 15 months from January 2014 to March 2015, the total study population consisted of 248 patients, who presented to the emergency department of a large tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, with organophosphate poisoning. Data was collected using a pre-designed proforma that included various variables such as demographics, laboratory investigations and progress of the patients, whether they recovered or expired. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The total study population consisted of 248 patients of which 181 (72.98%) were females and 67(27.01%) were males having a mean age of 27.28 ± 11.5 years. 213(85.88%) belonged to the recovery group, while 35(4.11%) belonged to the group of patients who unfortunately did not survive, the causes of death in were, 24(68.57%) died of respiratory failure, 7(20%) died of cardiac arrest, while 4(11.43%) died of renal failure. Illiteracy rates were higher in group B having a p value of less than 0.001, also the patients who came from rural areas to the hospital and those having a pre existing psychiatric illness was also significantly higher in group B having a p value of less than 0.05 in each class of patients. Bradycardia was the most important factor predicting mortality in the patients when analyzed using logistic regression analysis having a p value of less than 0.05. Conclusion: According to the results of our study the most important predictors for mortality in organophosphate poisoning were found to be age, decreased heart rate, serum glucose, LDH and acidosis. Identifying the most critically ill patients using these parameters and taking appropriate measures may contribute to a decrease in mortality in patients who ingest organophosphates.

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