Paracetamol poisoning among immigrants in a department of hepatology

Introduction: An increased incidence of suicides and suicidal behaviour amo ng 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. Methodology. A retrospective study of the incidence of paracetamol poisonin g in patients admitted to a specialised department of hepatology from 1994 to 1999 was carried our. Results: Of a total of 580 patients, 56 (9.7%; 95%-conridrnce interval 7.2- 12.1%)were immigrants, among whom a significant overrepresentation was foun d of immigrants from Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Lebanon (Observed/ Expecte d-ratios of 1.95, 4.14, 2.67, and 2.45 respectively: p <0.05). The immigran ts differed from the Danish-born patients being younger(21 vs 35 years of a ge; p<0.05), having a lower level of alcohol consumption (3% vs 30% with re gular alcohol abuse; p<less than>0.05), and in general being less severely intoxicated (3% vs 22% developing hepatic encephalopathy; p<0.05). Compared to the Danish-born patients, the immigrants more frequently stated socio-e conomic problems as the reason for their self-poisoning (29% vs 10%; p<less than>0.05). Conclusions: The study demonstrates an overrepresentation of immigrants amo ng patients admitted with paracetamol poisoning in Denmark.