Cardiovascular medication exposures and poisonings in Izmir, Turkey: a 14-year experience.

Cardiovascular medications (CVMs) are frequently prescribed for cardiovascular diseases. The unconscious use of cardiovascular drugs may lead to severe clinical manifestations, even to death, especially when in overdose. The objective of this study is to clarify the profile of CVM exposures admitted to Department of Emergency Medicine in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital (EMDEU) between 1993 and 2006. Case demographics, type of the medication, route and reason for exposure, clinical effects and outcome were recorded. Related to the CVM exposures, 105 poisoning cases were admitted. Mean age of children and adults were 12.8 +/- 1.0 and 30.1 +/- 1.8, respectively. Females were dominating (77.1%). Poisoning by accident occurred mainly among children in the 0-6 age group (64.3%) and suicide attempt was predominant in the 19-29 age group (47.8%). The most common ingested CVMs admitted to EMDEU were calcium channel blockers (19.7%), beta-blockers (17.3%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics (11.8%). Most of the patients were asymptomatic (59.1%). Frequently observed symptom was altered consciousness (18.6%). Antihypertensive drugs are responsible for the most of the CVM exposures. Prospectively designed multi-centered studies are needed to reflect the epidemiological properties of cardiovascular drug exposures throughout our country and would be very valuable for the determination of preventive measures