Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39968885›Full record

Observational studyActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2025

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 and 10 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Oliver Nørholm KempfDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0009-0001-9820-6124
Thora Wesenberg HeltDepartment of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-3763-8839
Jens Jakob Herrche-PetersenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark - South-West Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark.
Charlotte SøndergaardDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Gødstrup Hospital, Gødstrup, Denmark.
Elke LonginDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Regional Hospital of North Jutland, Hjørring, Denmark.
Annie EllermanDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Holbaek Hospital, Holbaek, Denmark.
Marianne Sjølin FrederiksenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Louise Lundby-ChristensenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jesper AndersenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, North Zealand Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
Thomas Houmann PetersenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark - Lillebaelt, Lillebaelt, Denmark.
Rasmus G NielsenHans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Bent Windelborg NielsenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Randers Hospital, Randers, Denmark.
Cæcilie TrierDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.
Louise JürgensenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Southern Denmark-Sønderjylland, Sønderjylland, Denmark.
Jens Peter NielsenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Viborg Hospital, Viborg, Denmark.
Magnus Ove ReynskorDepartment of Paediatrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Helene KvistgaardDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Malene BoasDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, North Zealand Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
Eva Mosfeldt JeppesenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Vibeke Brix ChristensenDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-0890-3832

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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

methodsA 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.

resultsA 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.

conclusionThe 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.

Indexed as

AcetaminophenAnalgesics, Non-NarcoticCOVID-19Drug OverdoseAdolescentChildDenmarkFemaleHospitalizationHumansMalePandemicsRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAcetaminophenAnalgesics, Non-Narcotic

Identifiers

PMID39968885
PMCPMC12258092

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.