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

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Artikel › Forskning › peer review

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
Sider (fra-til)	1839-1846
Antal sider	8
Tidsskrift	Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
Vol/bind	114
Udgave nummer	8
Tidlig onlinedato	19 feb. 2025
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037
Status	Udgivet - aug. 2025

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1111/apa.70037

Citationsformater

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, International Journal of Paediatrics, 114(8), 1839-1846. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037

@article{101fc96bb2c04b1bad8b6127851b1223,

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.",

keywords = "Acetaminophen/poisoning, Adolescent, Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/poisoning, COVID-19/epidemiology, Child, Denmark/epidemiology, Drug Overdose/epidemiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics \& numerical data, Humans, Male, Pandemics, Retrospective Studies, Young Adult",

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 = aug,

doi = "10.1111/apa.70037",

language = "English",

volume = "114",

pages = "1839--1846",

journal = "Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics",

issn = "0803-5253",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "8",

}

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, International Journal of Paediatrics, bind 114, nr. 8, s. 1839-1846. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70037

TY - JOUR

T1 - Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents

T2 - 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 - 2025/8

Y1 - 2025/8

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.

KW - Acetaminophen/poisoning

KW - Adolescent

KW - Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/poisoning

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

KW - Child

KW - Denmark/epidemiology

KW - Drug Overdose/epidemiology

KW - Female

KW - Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Pandemics

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1111/apa.70037

DO - 10.1111/apa.70037

M3 - Article

C2 - 39968885

SN - 0803-5253

VL - 114

SP - 1839

EP - 1846

JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics

JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics

IS - 8

ER -

Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

Abstract

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