Hospital Admissions for Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents in Spain: A Population-Based Study

Limited evidence exists regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the onset and trajectory of eating disorders (EDs) among young in Spain. This study aims to analyze the characteristics and recent trends in hospital admissions for EDs within the pediatric population.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on hospital admissions for EDs among patients aged 10-19 years between 2016 and 2022. The main outcomes examined included hospital rates (overall, stratified by ED type and age group), psychiatric comorbidities, and length of stay.

A total of 8275 hospitalizations due to EDs were identified, constituting 1 in 6 hospital admissions for mental illness and behavioral disorders. Predominant characteristics of this population included female sex (93%), aged 15-19 years (58.3%), admission primarily for anorexia nervosa (71.6%), and psychiatric comorbidity (35.6%). Hospital admissions for EDs in the pediatric population showed an increasing trend, with an annual average increase of 11.1% (95% CI: 2.6, 22.6). This rise was led by children aged 10-14 years, with a yearly increase in EDs hospitalization rates of 28.4% (95% CI: 13.5, 56.3) since 2019. Each discharge related to EDs was associated with a median stay of 24 days (IQR: 10, 40).

Efforts in community healthcare should prioritize early detection and intervention for symptoms indicative of EDs in the pediatric population, aiming to mitigate the severity of cases requiring hospitalization. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted health planning policies to address the growing burden of EDs among Spanish youth.