Research Article
Impact of Amending the Acetylcysteine Marketing Authorisation on Treatment of Paracetamol Overdose
Table 1
Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and overdose patterns presented as median (interquartile range), and proportions.
| | Characteristic | Sept. 2011–Aug. 2012 | Sept. 2012–Apr. 2013 |
| | Number | 483 | 302 | | Females | 311 (64.4%) | 193 (63.6%) | | Age (years) | 24 (18–44) | 24 (17–43) | | Weight (kg) | 69 (60–82) | 70 (60–84) | | Paracetamol dose (grams) | 10.0 (6.0–16.0) | 9.5 (5.0–16.0) | | Paracetamol dose (mg/kg) | 176 (123–259) | 174 (104–287) | | Interval overdose to level (hours) | 4.4 (4.0–6.0) | 4.7 (4.0–6.1) | | Paracetamol level (mg/L) | 61 (33–98) | 59 (32–104) | | Equivalent 4-hour level (mg/L) | 60 (27–122) | 59 (18–111) | | Overdose pattern | | | | Single time-point ingestion, <15 hours | | | | Above “200-line” | 22 (4.6%) | 12 (4.0%) | | Between “200-line” and “100-line” | 76 (15.7%) | 45 (14.9%) | | Below “100-line” | 208 (43.1%) | 135 (44.7%) | | Nomogram not applicable | | | | Staggered ingestion (>1 hour) | 100 (20.7%) | 59 (19.5%) | | Late presentation (>15 hours) | 23 (4.8%) | 13 (4.3%) | | Time of ingestion uncertain | 18 (3.7%) | 13 (4.3%) | | Level not checked | 36 (7.5%) | 25 (8.3%) |
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