The Structure of Acute Exotoxicosis During the First Three Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic (According to the Acute Toxicosis Department of N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine)

 BACKGROUND The self-isolation regime introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19 disrupted the habitual way of life of the majority of the population, which could cause increased anxiety and depressive states in some citizens and lead to the development of acute exotoxicosis.

AIM OF STUDY To identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the structure of acute poisonings based on their comparative analysis for March-May in 2019 and 2020.

MATERIAl AND METHODS “Hospital patient cards” of patients who were treated in the Department of Acute Toxicosis and Somatopsychiatric  Disorders of the N. V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine in March–May, 2019 and 2020. The Statistica 10.0 program was used for data processing. 

 RESUlTS The total number and gender composition of patients with acute poisonings (AP) did not differ significantly in the compared periods. In 2020, the share of people aged 30–39 increased by 23%, while patients over 50 decreased by 7%. In 2020, the frequency of AP caused by medicines decreased by 10%, with sedatives and antidepressants prevailing. There has been an increase in cases of overdose with NSAIDs, antibiotics and antiviral drugs, probably as a result of self-treatment for Covid-19.
The share of drug and psychoactive substance poisoning increased by 5%, mainly due to overdoses of synthetic drugs and combinations of drugs of different groups. At the same time, the number of cases of recreational drug use decreased 2.4-fold.
In March-May 2020, the number of patients with severe AP caused by alcohol increased 4-fold, and the number of people with other forms of AP hospitalized with alcohol intoxication grew 2.7-fold.
Additionally, twice as many household AP have been caused by chlorine vapor, as well as poisoning with isopropyl alcohol, which can be associated with frequent improper use of disinfectants.

CONClUSION Thus, the pandemic and the introduction of restrictive measures for COVID-19 affected the structure of acute exotoxicosis in Moscow in the period March-May 2020. The revealed changes in the structure of acute poisoning to a certain extent reflect global trends. 

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