Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

Oliver Nørholm Kempf; Thora Wesenberg Helt; Jens Jakob Herrche-Petersen; Charlotte Søndergaard; Elke Longin; Annie Ellerman; Marianne Sjølin Frederiksen; Louise Lundby-Christensen; Jesper Andersen; Thomas Houmann Petersen; Rasmus G. Nielsen; Bent Windelborg Nielsen; Cæcilie Trier; Louise Jürgensen; Jens Peter Nielsen; Magnus Ove Reynskor; Helene Kvistgaard; Malene Boas; Eva Mosfeldt Jeppesen; Vibeke Brix Christensen

doi:10.1111/apa.70037

Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

Oliver Nørholm Kempf^*, Thora Wesenberg Helt, Jens Jakob Herrche-Petersen, Charlotte Søndergaard, Elke Longin, Annie Ellerman, Marianne Sjølin Frederiksen, Louise Lundby-Christensen, Jesper Andersen, Thomas Houmann Petersen, Rasmus G. Nielsen, Bent Windelborg Nielsen, Cæcilie Trier, Louise Jürgensen, Jens Peter Nielsen, Magnus Ove Reynskor, Helene Kvistgaard, Malene Boas, Eva Mosfeldt Jeppesen, Vibeke Brix Christensen

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Abstract

AIM: This study examines trends in paracetamol overdoses among Danish adolescents during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the national databases, covering all paediatric departments in Denmark from January 2016 to December 2023. Patients between 10 and 19 years of age diagnosed with paracetamol overdose were stratified by sex, age and number of hospital admissions. As the dataset covers the entire population, observed values reflect true parameters. A one-sample t-test compared post-COVID-19 values to the pre-COVID-19 mean.

RESULTS: A total of 4.448 patients accounted for 5.794 hospital admissions due to paracetamol overdoses, with a majority being girls. During the second year of the pandemic (2021), a rise in overdose cases (26.5%) and hospital admissions (30.3%) was observed, especially among girls. The average number of admissions per patient increased, indicating repeated self-harm attempts. Cases of severe overdoses leading to acute liver failure increased at Rigshospitalet. These trends reversed post-pandemic.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an association between pandemic-related isolation and an increase in adolescent paracetamol overdoses. While rates began to normalise after restrictions were lifted, further research is needed to assess the long-term mental health impact of such restrictions.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Acta Paediatrica
Antal sider	8
ISSN	0803-5253
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037
Status	E-pub ahead of print - 19 feb. 2025

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10.1111/apa.70037Licens: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Kempf, O. N., Helt, T. W., Herrche-Petersen, J. J., Søndergaard, C., Longin, E., Ellerman, A., Frederiksen, M. S., Lundby-Christensen, L., Andersen, J., Petersen, T. H., Nielsen, R. G., Nielsen, B. W., Trier, C., Jürgensen, L., Nielsen, J. P., Reynskor, M. O., Kvistgaard, H., Boas, M., Jeppesen, E. M., & Christensen, V. B. (2025). Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective. Acta Paediatrica. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037

@article{7bd0dea7847e410298c4f59a6bd21503,

title = "Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective",

abstract = "AIM: This study examines trends in paracetamol overdoses among Danish adolescents during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the national databases, covering all paediatric departments in Denmark from January 2016 to December 2023. Patients between 10 and 19 years of age diagnosed with paracetamol overdose were stratified by sex, age and number of hospital admissions. As the dataset covers the entire population, observed values reflect true parameters. A one-sample t-test compared post-COVID-19 values to the pre-COVID-19 mean.RESULTS: A total of 4.448 patients accounted for 5.794 hospital admissions due to paracetamol overdoses, with a majority being girls. During the second year of the pandemic (2021), a rise in overdose cases (26.5%) and hospital admissions (30.3%) was observed, especially among girls. The average number of admissions per patient increased, indicating repeated self-harm attempts. Cases of severe overdoses leading to acute liver failure increased at Rigshospitalet. These trends reversed post-pandemic.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an association between pandemic-related isolation and an increase in adolescent paracetamol overdoses. While rates began to normalise after restrictions were lifted, further research is needed to assess the long-term mental health impact of such restrictions.",

author = "Kempf, {Oliver N{\o}rholm} and Helt, {Thora Wesenberg} and Herrche-Petersen, {Jens Jakob} and Charlotte S{\o}ndergaard and Elke Longin and Annie Ellerman and Frederiksen, {Marianne Sj{\o}lin} and Louise Lundby-Christensen and Jesper Andersen and Petersen, {Thomas Houmann} and Nielsen, {Rasmus G.} and Nielsen, {Bent Windelborg} and C{\ae}cilie Trier and Louise J{\"u}rgensen and Nielsen, {Jens Peter} and Reynskor, {Magnus Ove} and Helene Kvistgaard and Malene Boas and Jeppesen, {Eva Mosfeldt} and Christensen, {Vibeke Brix}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1111/apa.70037",

language = "English",

journal = "Acta Paediatrica",

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Kempf, ON, Helt, TW, Herrche-Petersen, JJ, Søndergaard, C, Longin, E, Ellerman, A, Frederiksen, MS, Lundby-Christensen, L, Andersen, J, Petersen, TH, Nielsen, RG, Nielsen, BW, Trier, C, Jürgensen, L, Nielsen, JP, Reynskor, MO, Kvistgaard, H, Boas, M, Jeppesen, EM & Christensen, VB 2025, 'Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective', Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037

TY - JOUR

T1 - Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

AU - Kempf, Oliver Nørholm

AU - Helt, Thora Wesenberg

AU - Herrche-Petersen, Jens Jakob

AU - Søndergaard, Charlotte

AU - Longin, Elke

AU - Ellerman, Annie

AU - Frederiksen, Marianne Sjølin

AU - Lundby-Christensen, Louise

AU - Andersen, Jesper

AU - Petersen, Thomas Houmann

AU - Nielsen, Rasmus G.

AU - Nielsen, Bent Windelborg

AU - Trier, Cæcilie

AU - Jürgensen, Louise

AU - Nielsen, Jens Peter

AU - Reynskor, Magnus Ove

AU - Kvistgaard, Helene

AU - Boas, Malene

AU - Jeppesen, Eva Mosfeldt

AU - Christensen, Vibeke Brix

PY - 2025/2/19

Y1 - 2025/2/19

N2 - AIM: This study examines trends in paracetamol overdoses among Danish adolescents during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the national databases, covering all paediatric departments in Denmark from January 2016 to December 2023. Patients between 10 and 19 years of age diagnosed with paracetamol overdose were stratified by sex, age and number of hospital admissions. As the dataset covers the entire population, observed values reflect true parameters. A one-sample t-test compared post-COVID-19 values to the pre-COVID-19 mean.RESULTS: A total of 4.448 patients accounted for 5.794 hospital admissions due to paracetamol overdoses, with a majority being girls. During the second year of the pandemic (2021), a rise in overdose cases (26.5%) and hospital admissions (30.3%) was observed, especially among girls. The average number of admissions per patient increased, indicating repeated self-harm attempts. Cases of severe overdoses leading to acute liver failure increased at Rigshospitalet. These trends reversed post-pandemic.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an association between pandemic-related isolation and an increase in adolescent paracetamol overdoses. While rates began to normalise after restrictions were lifted, further research is needed to assess the long-term mental health impact of such restrictions.

AB - AIM: This study examines trends in paracetamol overdoses among Danish adolescents during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the national databases, covering all paediatric departments in Denmark from January 2016 to December 2023. Patients between 10 and 19 years of age diagnosed with paracetamol overdose were stratified by sex, age and number of hospital admissions. As the dataset covers the entire population, observed values reflect true parameters. A one-sample t-test compared post-COVID-19 values to the pre-COVID-19 mean.RESULTS: A total of 4.448 patients accounted for 5.794 hospital admissions due to paracetamol overdoses, with a majority being girls. During the second year of the pandemic (2021), a rise in overdose cases (26.5%) and hospital admissions (30.3%) was observed, especially among girls. The average number of admissions per patient increased, indicating repeated self-harm attempts. Cases of severe overdoses leading to acute liver failure increased at Rigshospitalet. These trends reversed post-pandemic.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an association between pandemic-related isolation and an increase in adolescent paracetamol overdoses. While rates began to normalise after restrictions were lifted, further research is needed to assess the long-term mental health impact of such restrictions.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85219668959&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/apa.70037

DO - 10.1111/apa.70037

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39968885

SN - 0803-5253

JO - Acta Paediatrica

JF - Acta Paediatrica

ER -

Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

Abstract

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