J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2009 Jun;7(1):10-18.

Risk Factors Associated with Complications of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Jang SW
• Jeon JC
• Choi WI

Abstract

PURPOSE: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is an important medical emergency in Korea, but the factors leading to its serious manifestation are not well studied.
METHODS
We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 98 carbon monoxide poisoned patients who visited the emergency departments of the Medical Center between December 2004 and March 2009. We categorized the patients into those exhibiting only local symptoms (group 1) and those showing systemic symptoms and complications (group 2). We compared the general characteristics as well as the clinical and laboratory findings between both groups.
RESULTS
The male to female ratio was 1.18. The most common systemic symptom was a mental change (43.9%), while the most common complication was rhabdomyolysis (31.6%). Poisoned area closed private room in group 2 were 23 (41.8%) cases and burning region in group 2 were 16(29.1%) cases (p=0.956). Individuals who were accidentally poisoned comprised of 43 (78.2%) cases while those that attempted suicidal poisoning comprised 12 (21.8%) cases (p=0.016). The most common symptom at arrival was mental change 33 (60.0%) cases in group 2. The mean time exposed to carbon monoxide was 43+/-3.97 hours in group 1 and 55+/-10.11 in group 2 (p=0.012). The patient's age, context of poisoning, symptom at arrival, and time exposed to the poison were found to be significant risk factors for complications by logistic regression analysis.
CONCLUSION
Carbon monoxide poisoning is an emergency medical condition and the risk factors involved in the development of serious complications must be evaluated

Keyword

Carbon monoxide; Complications; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Burns
Carbon
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Patients' Rooms
Retrospective Studies
Rhabdomyolysis
Risk Factors
Carbon
Carbon Monoxide