Carbon monoxide exposures reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service: a 4-year study.
Gentile, Daniela Adams, Richard Klatka, Michal Bradberry, Sally Gray, Laurence Thanacoody, Ruben Jackson, Gillian Sandilands, Euan A
Gentile, Daniela
Adams, Richard
Klatka, Michal
Bradberry, Sally
Gray, Laurence
Thanacoody, Ruben
Jackson, Gillian
Sandilands, Euan A
Abstract
Background: Unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning poses a public health challenge. The UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) provides advice to healthcare professionals via the online database, TOXBASE®, and a 24-hour telephone line. Our aim was to analyse all CO-related enquiries to the NPIS.
Methods: We analysed enquiries regarding unintentional CO exposure (1st July 2015-30th June 2019). Information on patient demographics, CO source and location, clinical features and poisoning severity was collected from telephone enquiries and TOXBASE accesses.
Results: 2970 unintentional non-fire-related CO exposures were reported. Exposures occurred commonly in the home (60%) with faulty boilers frequently implicated (27.4%). Although five fatalities were reported, 68.7% of patients experienced no or minor symptoms only (headache most frequently reported). Despite being the gold standard measurement, blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentration was only recorded in 25.6% patients, with no statistically significant correlation with severity.
Conclusions: Unintentional CO exposures in the UK commonly occur in domestic settings and although are generally of low severity, fatalities continue to occur. Carboxyhaemoglobin measurement is important to confirm exposure but further work is required to assess its validity as a prognostic indicator in CO exposure. Public health policy should continue to focus on raising awareness of the dangers of CO.
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Date
2022-08-25
Type
Article
Subject
Clinical pathology
Citation
Gentile D, Adams R, Klatka M, Bradberry S, Gray L, Thanacoody R, Jackson G, Sandilands EA. Carbon monoxide exposures reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service: a 4-year study. J Public Health (Oxf). 2022 Aug 25;44(3):565-574. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab132.
Journal / Source Title
Journal of Public Health
DOI
10.1093/pubmed/fdab132
PMID
33993287
Publisher
Oxford University Press