2018 Annual Report of the University of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center

Abstract

Background. This is the 2018 Annual Report of the Kansas Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System (KSPCC). The KSPCC serves the state of Kansas 24-hours per day, 365 days a year with certified specialists in poison information and clinical and medical toxicologists. 
 Methods. All encounters reported to the KSPCC from 01/01/2018 through 12/31/2018 were analyzed. Data recorded for each exposure included caller location, age, weight, gender, exposure substance, nature of exposure, route of exposure, interventions, medical outcome, disposition, and location of care. 
 Results. There were 21,072 total encounters, including 20,031 human exposure cases. Calls were received from every county and hospital in Kansas. Most of the exposures involved females (51.5%, n = 10,320) and a child less than 19 year of age (64%, n = 12,865). Medical outcomes were 24.5% (n = 4,912) no effect, 17.7% (n = 3,542) minor effect, 9.1% (n = 1,830) moderate effect, and 2.4% (n = 476) major effect. Seven deaths were reported in 2018. The number of exposure calls from healthcare facilities and severity of medical outcomes increased in 2018 compared to 2017. 
 Conclusions. The 2018 KSPCC annual report demonstrated that the center receives calls from the entire state of Kansas totaling over 20,000 human exposures. While pediatric exposures remain the most common encounter, a trend continued of an increasing number of calls from healthcare facilities and for cases with serious outcomes. This report supported the continued value of the KSPCC to both public and acute health care in the state of Kansas.

2019 Annual Report of the Kansas Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System

“…[4][5][6] While the number of deaths doubled from 7 in 2018 to 14 in 2019, this more closely reflects previous years' exposure-related fatalities with 15 and 16 deaths documented in 2016 and 2017, respectively. 4,5 The 2019 Kansas Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System's statistics continued to mirror those seen nationally by the other 54 accredited poison control centers nationwide. In 2018, 2,530,238 encounters were logged by poison control, including 2,099,751 human exposures.…”

2020 Annual Report of the Kansas Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System

“…With the exception of 2018, there has been a steady increase in the number of deaths reported since 2015. [5][6][7][8] The 2020 KSPCC statistics continued to mirror those seen nationally by the other 54 accredited poison control centers nationwide. In 2019, 2,573,180 encounters were logged by poison control, including 2,148,141 human exposures.…”

“…Cases from healthcare facilities still account for approximately 25% of the cases reported to the KSPCC. [5][6][7][8] Moderate/major outcomes have increased steadily by 36% since 2015. The percent of cases with a moderate/major outcome was 10.1% of overall cases in 2015 compared to 2020 where these cases account for 11.6% of overall case volume.…”

2021 Annual Report of the Kansas Poison Control Center at The University of Kansas Health System

“…Since 2015, calls to the KSPCC from healthcare facilities have increased by 17.3% and account for approximately 30% of all cases. [5][6][7][8][9] Not surprisingly, moderate/major outcomes also have increased by 34.6% since 2015. The percent of cases with a moderate/major outcome was 7.8% of overall cases in 2015 compared to 2021 where these cases accounted for 12.4% of the overall case volume.…”