Paracetamol Overdoses Among Danish Adolescents: A COVID-19 Perspective

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

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.

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.

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.