@article{ref1,
title="Relationship between ambient temperature and severe acute poisoning by alcohol and drugs",
journal="Alcohol",
year="2021",
author="Hensel, Mario and Stuhr, Markus and Geppert, Daniel and Kersten, Jan F. and D-Biol, Jürgen Lorenz and Kerner, Thoralf",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="AIM: To test the hypothesis that severe acute poisoning by alcohol and drugs is more frequent at higher rather than at lower ambient temperatures. <br><br>METHOD: This was a prospective observational study performed in a prehospital setting under marine west coast climate conditions. Data from the Emergency Medical Service in Hamburg (Germany) and data from the local weather station were evaluated over a 5-year period. Temperature data were obtained and matched with the associated rescue mission data which were divided into the following groups: 1) alcohol poisoning, 2) opioid poisoning, 3) poisoning by sedatives/hypnotics, multiple drugs, volatile solvents, and other psychoactive substances. Lowess-Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between ambient temperature and frequency of severe acute poisoning. Additionally, three temperature-ranges were defined in order to compare them with each other with regard to frequency of severe poisoning (<10 °C vs. 10-20 °C vs. >20 °C). The severity of emergencies was assessed using the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) scoring system. <br><br>RESULTS: In 1,535 patients severe acute alcohol or drug poisoning associated with loss of consciousness, hypotension, and impaired respiratory function was treated (alcohol: n=604; opioids: n=295; sedatives/hypnotics/multiple drugs: n=636). Compared to mild temperatures (10-20°C), the frequency of poisoning increased in all three groups at higher temperatures and decreased at lower temperatures (p<0.01). No significant correlation was found between severity of emergencies and temperature. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a continuously increasing probability of occurrence of severe acute poisoning by alcohol and drugs with rising temperature.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0741-8329",
doi="10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.04.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.04.001"
}