Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care admissions and mortality due to self-poisoning: A retrospective comparative study from a tertiary care hospital

Introduction COVID-19 struck the economies of every country, but the low- and middle-income countries had the most impact. Suicides during these times have increased, depicting the mental health of individuals. In this research, suicide rates and risk factors pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pan...

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Main Authors: Aneela Α. Kidwai, Komal Fareed, Jamal Ara, Mahnoor Khalil, Shaista Ahmed, Syeda Urooj Riaz, Yumna Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2023-09-01
Series:Public Health and Toxicology
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Online Access:https://www.publichealthtoxicology.com/Impact-of-COVID-19-pandemic-on-intensive-care-admissions-and-mortality-due-to-self,172893,0,2.html
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Summary:Introduction COVID-19 struck the economies of every country, but the low- and middle-income countries had the most impact. Suicides during these times have increased, depicting the mental health of individuals. In this research, suicide rates and risk factors pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as pre- and post-lockdown, were examined. Methods The study was comparative and conducted in 2021 with retrospective data taken pre-COVID-19 from an ICU setting in Karachi. All admitted patients, aged ≥14 years, due to self-poisoning were included in the study. Data on demographics, outcomes, and risk factors were compared in the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods using a questionnaire and entered in SPSS and analyzed. Results We found a greater percentage of females (n=135; 62.2%) admitted for self-ingestion of poison compared to males (p<0.29) during both pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. A statistically significant difference has been reported in the pandemic and pre-COVID-19 periods for ICU length of stay (LOS) (8.5 ± 3.18 vs 6.8± 2, p<0.001), APACHE II score (25.0 ± 8.1 vs. 22.3 ± 9.1 (p=0.006), and duration of mechanical ventilation (2.6 ± 4.2 vs 1.6 ± 2.6 (p=0.019). Conclusions There was a significant rise in suicidal cases as well as morbidity in the COVID-19 period, indicating compromised mental health affecting the population.
ISSN:2732-8929