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 foriegn-born minority groups, although no data have been produced to substantiate this suspicion. Methodology: 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%; 95%-confidence interval 7.212.1%) were immigrants, among whom a significant overrepresentation was found of immigrants from Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Lebanon (Observed/Expected-ratios of 1.95, 4.l4, 2.67, and 2.45 respectively; P<0.05) The immigrants differed from the Danish-born patients being younger (21 vs 35 years of age; p<0.05), having a lower level of alcohol consumption 3% vs 30% with regular alcohol abuse; p<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-economic problems as the reason for their self-poisoning (29% vs 10%; p<0.05). Conclusions: The study demonstrates an overrepresentation of immigrants among patients admitted with paracetamol poisoning in Denmark.

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immigrant Registries minority group human Refugees middle aged Denmark Aged Suicide, Attempted drug intoxication Humans Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics Incidence Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult hepatic encephalopathy alcohol abuse Emigration and Immigration retrospective study Acetaminophen paracetamol Suicide Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Child