Materials and Method: Patients 65 years old or over who were followed in the toxicology intensive care unit between 2010 January and 2012 February were included in this study. The cases were evaluated with respect to their gender, age, marital status, concomitant diseases, agents they were exposed to, causes of exposure, complications, length of stay, and mortality.
Findings: Of the 52 patients included in the study, 42.3% were women and 57.7% were men. The average age was 71.6. 71.2% was married, 28.8% was single, widowed and/or living alone. Of the patients 50% was exposed to poison accidentally. Organophosphates were the primary agent for accidental exposure followed by carbon monoxide. Of the 9 patients who attempted suicide, 5 had taken organophosphates and 2 of them died.
Conclusion: In this study, we have observed that the elderly patients who were admitted to the emergency ward for poisoning had mostly taken the toxic substances accidentally, however elderly patients may also take toxic substances for suicide attempts. We think, it is important to take this into consideration in the emergency ward.
Keywords : Toxicology; Geriatric; Suicide