Prevalence of Pregnancy in Drug Overdose Presenting to a Tertiary Toxicology Service

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive Analysis of Age, Exposure Type, Number of Agents Used per Patient and Number of Drug Classes

Variable	Total Patients (n=2438)	All Pregnancies (n=39)	Pre-Existing Pregnancy (n=20)	Unexpected Pregnancy (n=19)	Not Pregnant (n=2399)
Mean Age (median; IQR)	28.9 years (27; 20–37 years)	30.8 years (29; 22–39 years)	26.9 years (26.5; 22–31 years)	34.9 years (39; 28–45 years)	28.9 years (27, 20–37)
Type of Exposure
Deliberate Self-Poisoning	72.6% (1771)	71.8% (28)	65.0% (13)	79.0% (15)	72.7% (1743)
Therapeutic Misadventure	7.9% (192)	10.3% (4)	10.0% (2)	10.0% (2)	7.8% (188)
Recreational	15.0% (365)	10.3% (4)	10.0% (2)	10.0% (2)	15% (361)
Accidental	4.5% (110)	7.7% (3)	15.0% (3)	0% (0)	4.5% (107)
Number of Agents
Single Agent	58.9% (1436)	48.7% (19)	40% (8)	57.9% (11)	59.1% (1417)
Polypharmacy	41.1% (1002)	51.3% (20)	60% (12)	42.1% (8)	40.9% (982)
Drug Classes
Paracetamol	26.9% (656)	38.5% (15)	31.4% (11)	21.1% (4)	26.7% (641)
Sedative-Hypnotics	17.2% (419)	15.4% (6)	11.3% (4)	10.5% (2)	17.2% (413)
Opiates	14.2% (347)	23.1% (9)	14.3% (5)	21.1% (4)	14.1% (338)
NSAIDs	8.1% (197)	7.7% (3)	5.7% (2)	5.3% (1)	8.1% (194)
Antihistamines	6.6% (160)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	6.7% (160)
Antidepressants	18% (438)	12.8% (5)	2.9% (1)	21.1% (4)	18% (433)
Antipsychotics	14.4% (350)	15.4% (6)	2.9% (1)	26.5% (5)	14.3% (344)
Alcohol	10.5% (257)	2.6% (1)	2.9% (1)	0% (0)	10.7% (256)
Stimulants	3% (72)	2.6% (1)	0% (0)	5.3% (1)	3% 971)
Anticonvulsant	3.4% (83)	2.6% (1)	2.9% (1)	0% (0)	3.4% (82)
Mood Stabiliser	2.4% (59)	2.6% (1)	0% (0)	5.3% (1)	2.4% (58)
Antihypertensive	1.2% (30)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	1.3% (30)
Cardiac Depressants	2.2% (54)	2.6% (1)	0% (0)	5.3% (1)	2.2% (53)
Other	11.7% 285)	11.7% (11)	20.0% (7)	21.1% (4)	11.4% (274)
Clonidine	1.0% (24)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	1% (24)
Gabapentinoids	2% (49)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	2% (49)
Hypoglycaemics	2.4% (61)	2.4% (1)	0% (0)	5.3% (1)	2.5% (60)
Recreational	10.4% (254)	7.7% (3)	5.7% (2)	5.3% (1)	10.5% (251)

Figure 1 Patient selection.

Figure 2 Percentage of drug classes used by the patients in the study (n = 2438).

Figure 3 Comparison of the percentage of drug exposures including total number of pregnant patients, pre-existing pregnancy and unexpected pregnancy.