Risk factors for mortality in Asian Taiwanese patients with methanol poisoning

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with methanol poisoning (n=32)

Variable	All patients
Age, years*	46.1±13.8 (23.0–73.0)
Male, n (%)	28 (87.5)
Time from exposure to hospital arrival, hours*	22.1±17.4 (1.0–60.0)
Oral/intravenous methanol exposure, n (%)	31/1 (96.9/3.1)
Intentional/unintentional poisoning, n (%)	10/22 (31.3/68.8)
Alcohol consumption habit, n (%)	24 (75.0)
Hypertension, n (%)	8 (25.0)

Note:

* Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (range).

Table 2 Clinical outcomes of patients with methanol poisoning (n=32)

Variable, unit	All patients
Clinical manifestations
Latent period, hours*	9.3±10.1 (0.0–36.0)
Hypothermia, n (%)	16 (50.0)
Hypotension, n (%)	5 (15.6)
Acute renal failure, n (%)	19 (59.4)
Acute respiratory failure, n (%)	16 (50.0)
GCS*	10.5±5.4 (3.0–15.0)
Blood tests
Methanol level, mg/dL*	121.9±144.0 (3.5–402.5)
Ethanol level, mg/dL*	57.6±80.7 (0.0–286.8)
pH*	7.0±0.2 (6.6–7.3)
pCO2, mmHg*	26.3±14.3 (7.9–53.5)
Bicarbonate mmol/L*	6.7±5.0 (1.7–20.0)
Base excess, mmol/L*	−38.1±23.5 (−78.0 to −6.3)
Osmolality gap, mOsm/kg H2O*	53.4±35.5 (0.7–136.3)
Anion gap, mmol/L*	32.7±15.4 (9.8–56.7)
Urea nitrogen, mg/dL*	21.8±20.5 (7.0–98.0)
Creatinine, mg/dL*	2.0±1.3 (0.6–7.0)
White blood cell count per μL*	12,137.5±6,989.8 (1,000.0–29,300.0)
Hemoglobin, g/dL*	13.4±3.5 (3.9–20.1)
Platelet count, 1,000/μL*	185.1±103.2 (20.0–407.0)
Treatment modalities
Gastric lavage, n (%)	28 (87.5)
Activated charcoal, n (%)	28 (87.5)
Ethanol antidote, n (%)	19 (59.4)
Folic acid, n (%)	16 (50.0)
Hemodialysis, n (%)	18 (58.1)
Outcomes
Alive	6 (18.8)
Alive with chronic complications, n (%)	15 (46.9)
Dead	11 (34.4)

Note:

* Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (range).

Abbreviations: GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; pCO2, partial pressure of CO2.

Table 3 Analysis of risk factors associated with mortality using a multivariate Cox regression model (n=32)

Variable	OR (95% CI)	P-value
GCS (each increment of 1 point)	0.816 (0.682–0.976)	0.026*
Hypothermia (positive)	168.686 (2.685–10,595.977)	0.015*
pH (each increment of 1)	0.247 (0.004–17.212)	0.519
Serum creatinine (each increment of 1 mg/dL)	4.799 (1.321–17.440)	0.017*

Note:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: CI confidence interval; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; OR, odds ratio.