Causality of Poisoning of the Elderly: Prospective Study Based on Data From the Poison Control Centre of Bordeaux (GERIATOX)

Causality of Poisoning of the Elderly: Prospective Study Based on Data From the Poison Control Centre of Bordeaux Over 5 Months

Elderly is often associated with social, physiological and psychic changes. However, no study has examined accidental poisoning-induced changes.

The objective of the study is to identify and analyze the various causes of potentially toxic accidental exposure of the elderly to determine preventable causes and propose prevention strategies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Intoxication

Detailed Description

Elderly is often associated with social, physiological and psychic changes. Many studies tried to demonstrate their influence in the genesis of pathological events such as falls or suicide of the elderly but none on the genesis of accidental poisoning.

However, poisoning in this age group is frequent and sometimes severe. In order to improve care of the elderly, it seems necessary to focus on potential toxic accidental exposure.

For this, Poison Control Centre of the University Hospital of Bordeaux has identified the causes over a period of 5 months (from 01 March to 31 July 2017) from calls to the centre.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 122

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Bordeaux, France
    • Centre Anti Poision du CHU de Bordeaux

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All subjects aged 65 and over, victims of accidental or voluntary (excepted suicide) exposure of an agent (drug, household product, plant ...) and for who a call the Bordeaux Poison Control Centre has been called.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All subjects aged 65 and over,
• Victims of accidental exposure regardless of the agent (drug, household product, plant ...)
• Victims of voluntary exposure (out of suicidal behavior)
• And for which a call (notice, report) to the Poison Control Centre of Bordeaux has been recorded.
• Calling dates between March 1st and July 31st, even if the exhibition is prior to March 1st, 2017).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suicide
• Calls for inquiries

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nature of the agent	The nature of the agent has to be chosen among (1 choice only): drug, chemical, household product, DIY product, phytosanitary product, gas, plant, foreign body, food	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Circumstance of the event	The circumstance of the event has to be chosen among (1 choice only): accidental / voluntary	Baseline
Exposition route of exposure	The exposition route of exposure has to be chosen among (1 choice only): ingestion, eyepiece, dermal, inhalation or multiple routes	Baseline
symptoms	Number / Nature	Baseline
Poisoning Severity	The poisoning severity is evaluated using the Poisoning Severity Scale (PSS score). Severity grades: None (No symptoms or signs related to poisoning); MINOR (Mild, transient and spontaneously resolving symptoms); MODERATE (Pronounced or prolonged symptoms); SEVERE (Severe or life-threatening symptoms); DEATH	Baseline
Death	death before the call	Baseline
Frailty status	The frailty status is calculated from the following factors: sensory disturbance, cognitive and/or neurological disorder, psychiatric disorder, autonomy / dependence, concomittant treatments	Baseline
packaging of the agent	The packaging of the agent has to be chosen among (1 choice only): solid, liquid, gaseous, powder and if drug: tablet, drops, syrup, patch, injectable	Baseline
Concomittant treatment	Number of prescription drugs	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Bordeaux

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 3, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 2, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): August 2, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 29, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): October 31, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 7, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Elderly; Prevention; Intoxication; Poisoning; Poison Control centre; Accidental exposure
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Chemically-Induced Disorders; Poisoning
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHUBX 2017/02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No