Clinical characteristics of zinc phosphide poisoning in Thailand

Figures & data

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients with zinc phosphide poisoning

Characteristics	n (%)
Sex
Male	277 (60.9)
Female	178 (39.1)
Age in years, median (min–max)	39.91 (1–90)
Region
Central	157 (34.5)
Northeast	109 (24.0)
North	96 (21.1)
South	53 (11.6)
West	26 (5.7)
East	14 (3.1)
Duration from zinc phosphide exposure to hospital visit in hours, median (min–max)	1 (0.083–120)
Amount of exposure
<1 package	207 (45.5)
>1 package	161 (35.4)
Unknown	87 (19.1)

Abbreviations: min, minimum; max, maximum.

Table 2 Clinical presentations and vital signs at presentation

Clinical presentations	n (%)
Common presenting symptoms
Nausea and vomiting	227 (49.9)
Dyspnea	56 (12.3)
Drowsiness	42 (9.2)
Abdominal pain	41 (9.0)
Respiratory problem	6 (1.3)
Palpitation	3 (0.7)
Body temperature (°C, peripheral; data available in 303 patients)
<37.5	288 (95)
>37.5	15 (5.0)
Pulse rate (beats/minute; data available in 422 patients)
<60	6 (1.4)
60–100	356 (84.4)
>100	60 (14.2)
Respiratory rate (breaths/minute)
<20	320 (84.0)
>20	61 (16.0)
Blood pressure (mmHg)
Low	23 (5.5)
Normal	349 (78.9)
High	74 (17.6)
Oxygen saturation from pulse oximeter
Normal	74 (97.4)
Low	2 (2.6)
Glasgow Coma Scale score
<9	9 (2.0)
9–12	11 (2.4)
13–15	430 (95.6)

Table 3 Statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics and laboratory findings between patients who survived and died

Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings, number of patients	Patients who died	Patients who survived	P-value
Age, mean ± SD, 442 patients	49.09±14.588	39.43±19.412	0.006
Duration from zinc phosphide exposure to hospital visit in hours, median (min–max), 442 patients	3 (0.33–24)	1 (0.083–120)	0.001
Tachycardia at presentation (>100 beats/minute), % of 411 patients	33.3	13.1	0.015
Low systolic blood pressure at presentation (<90 mmHg), % of 410 patients	30.0	1.6	<0.001
Low diastolic blood pressure at presentation (<60 mmHg), % of 409 patients	33.3	3.4	<0.001
Tachypnea at presentation (>20 breaths/minute), % of 370 patients	38.5	14.5	0.004
Hypernatremia at presentation (>145 mmol/L), % of 328 patients	25.0	3.9	0.001
Hyperkalemia at presentation (>5.5 mmol/L), % of 330 patients	8.3	0.7	0.014
Acidosis (by electrolyte analysis) at presentation, % of 324 patients	60.9	8.0	<0.001
Acute kidney injury, % of 309 patients	50.0	6.3	<0.001
Hypoglycemia, % of 92 patients	40.0	3.7	<0.001
Endotracheal tube intubation, % of 442 patients	68.8	2.2	<0.001
Inotropic agent administration, % of 442 patients	94.7	5.3	<0.001

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; min, minimum; max, maximum.