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Saudi Toxicology Journal

Keywords

Carbon monoxide, Carbon monoxide poisoning, Carboxyhemoglobin, Clinical toxicology, Saudi Arabia, Case review

Document Type

Research Article

Abstract

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is an important public health concern associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, regional data describing the clinical characteristics of CO poisoning and community awareness in Southern Saudi Arabia remain limited.
Methods: This study comprised two independent components: a retrospective review of confirmed CO poisoning cases and a cross-sectional community awareness survey conducted in Southern Saudi Arabia. The clinical component included 30 confirmed cases from Asir, Najran, and Jazan during 2019–2021, while the separate awareness survey included 117 respondents from the general population selected using convenience sampling. Clinical characteristics, exposure patterns, outcomes, and item-level responses regarding CO knowledge and preventive awareness were evaluated.
Results: Among the 30 confirmed clinical cases, 18 patients survived (60.0%) and 12 died (40.0%). Annual case counts were 8 in 2019, 12 in 2020, and 10 in 2021. These counts are presented descriptively, as no population-based incidence rates or formal temporal trend analysis were performed. Winter was the most commonly reported season. Among cases with carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels ≥ 20%, charcoal briquettes were the most frequently reported exposure source (57.9%), and the home was the most frequently reported exposure setting (78.9%). Neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular manifestations were observed among the clinical cases. The separate awareness survey showed a mixed pattern of knowledge, with gaps in symptoms, complications, diagnostic testing, and preventive measures. No validated overall cutoff was used to classify awareness as adequate or inadequate. Educational level was associated with knowledge and preventive awareness (p < 0.001), and age was associated with knowledge level (p = 0.037). Because the number of individuals approached for the survey was not recorded, a conventional response rate could not be calculated.
Conclusion: This study provides descriptive clinical and community-awareness data on CO poisoning in Southern Saudi Arabia. The findings identify important clinical outcomes and specific gaps in community knowledge. Given the limited clinical sample size and convenience sampling of the awareness survey, the findings should be interpreted cautiously. The results support continued efforts in CO prevention, public education, early recognition, and prompt management, particularly during the winter season. Larger multicenter studies with population-based sampling and systematic clinical follow-up are needed to better characterize CO poisoning in Saudi Arabia.

Subject Area

Clinical Toxicology

Data Availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Ethical Approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate Institutional Review Board before data collection (Approval No. H-06-B-091). Permission was also obtained from participating hospitals and the Poison Control Center in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Article Publishing Charges USD 400

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