Abstract
BACKGROUND: Poisoned patients often suffer damage to multiple systems, and those experiencing central nervous system disorders present more severe conditions, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality rates. We aimed to assess the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions for patients with toxic encephalopathy. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, comparative cohort study was performed at the teaching hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, from October 2020 to December 2022. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria for toxic encephalopathy and exclusion criteria were included, and patients were divided into three subgroups according to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. The effect of the rehabilitation intervention on patients were assessed in the improvement of consciousness status (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score), muscle strength and movement and swallowing function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA] scale, Water Swallow Test [WST], and Standardized Swallowing Assessment [SSA]). Subgroup analysis was based on different toxic species. RESULTS: Out of the 464 patients with toxic encephalopathy, 184 cases received rehabilitation treatments. For the severe toxic encephalopathy patients, patients without rehabilitation intervention have a 2.21 times higher risk of death compared to patients with rehabilitation intervention (Hazard ratio [HR]=2.21). Subgroup analysis revealed that rehabilitation intervention significantly increased the survival rate of patients with pesticide poisoning (P=0.02), while no significant improvement was observed in patients with drug/biological agent poisoning (P=0.44). After rehabilitation intervention, significant improvement in GCS and FMA were observed in severe patients with toxic encephalopathy (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Active rehabilitation intervention for patients exposed to poisons that can potentially cause toxic encephalopathy may improve the prognosis and reduce the mortality rate in clinical practice.