Abstract
Purpose
Recent data demonstrate that the mortality rate from carbon monoxide poisoning has
declined over the past 2 decades. It is not known whether this decrease in mortality
is reflective of the total burden of carbon monoxide poisoning. This study sought
to examine trends in other potential indicators of the incidence of carbon monoxide
poisoning in the United States.
Basic Procedures
Published data from US poison control centers (PCCs) were used to calculate annual
rates of calls regarding carbon monoxide exposures. Data on numbers of carbon monoxide–poisoned
patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) were used to calculate annual treatment
rates. Trends in rates of carbon monoxide–related mortality, calls to PCCs, and HBO
treatment were then compared.
Main Findings
Contrary to the decline in carbon monoxide–related mortality from 1968 to 1998, rates
of calls to PCCs significantly increased over the same period. Neither rates of PCC
calls nor HBO treatment changed significantly from 1992 to 2002. The latter 2 measures
were strongly correlated.
Principal Conclusions
Although deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning have clearly decreased in the United
States, other indicators of the incidence of the condition suggest that the total
burden (fatal and nonfatal) may not have significantly changed. Efforts to prevent
carbon monoxide poisoning should not be relaxed.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
March 23,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
