Epidemiology of Acute Self-poisoning in Emergency Services in France

Evaluation of the Epidemiology and the Take Load of Voluntary Drug Intoxications by the Emergency Structures in France

Acute self poisoning is a leading cause of suicide attempts and leads to frequent emergency department visits. However, the exact epidemiology of acute self poisoning is not known. The description of the clinical pathway and the characteristics of patients with acute self poisoning could lead to an improvement in emergency care.

The Investigators will conduct a 48h observational study in emergency services in France. Investigators primary objective is to gathered epidemiological clinical and treatment data during emergency dispatch, prehospital care and inhospital emergency care.

Acute self poisoned patients will be prospectively and anonymously recruited by emergency physicians in charge during two days. Acute self poisoning is define as follow: intentional medicine intake in the 24h hours before emergency department admission.

Epidemiological, clinical, toxicological and treatment data will be gathered. Outcome of patient will be prospectively assessed at 30days.

All data will be transmitted to the principal investigators. Then, 20% of the data will be monitored by an independent committee.

Exhaustivity will be retrospectively assessed by the number of inclusions in 10 emergency centers divided by the total number of possible inclusions in these centers.

Finally, an independent statistician will be in charge of the analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• acute self poisoning defined as the intentional intake (oral, nasal, injection etc.) of medicines during the 24h before first medical contact

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiac arrest at first medical contact (dispatch or physician)
• acute self poisoning without any medication intake
• non intentional poisoning