Abstract
INTRODUCTION: An increased incidence of suicides and suicidal behaviour among immigrants has been described in other countries. In Denmark, misuse of paracetamol is suspected in some foreign-born minority groups, although no data have been produced to substantiate this suspicion.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of the incidence of paracetamol poisoning in patients admitted to a specialised department of hepatology from 1994 to 1999 was carried out.
RESULTS: Of a total of 580 patients, 56 (9.7%) were immigrants, among whom a significant overrepresentation was found of immigrants from Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Lebanon (observed/expected ratios of 1.95, 4.14, 2.67, and 2.45 respectively). The immigrants differed from the Danish-born patients in that they were younger (21 vs 35 years of age), had a lower level of alcohol consumption (3% vs 30% with regular alcohol abuse), and were in general less severely intoxicated (3% vs 22% developing hepatic encephalopathy). Compared to the Danish-born patients, the immigrants more frequently stated socio-economic problems as the reason for their self-poisoning (29% vs 10%).
DISCUSSION: The study demonstrates an overrepresentation of immigrants among patients admitted with paracetamol poisoning in Denmark.
| Bidragets oversatte titel | Paracetamol poisoning among immigrants in a department of hepatology |
|---|---|
| Originalsprog | Dansk |
| Tidsskrift | Ugeskrift for Laeger |
| Vol/bind | 162 |
| Udgave nummer | 46 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 6229-32 |
| Antal sider | 4 |
| ISSN | 0041-5782 |
| Status | Udgivet - 13 nov. 2000 |
Emneord
- Acetaminophen
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
- Denmark
- Emigration and Immigration
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Refugees
- Retrospective Studies
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Suicide, Attempted