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Madigan S, Vaillancourt T, Dimitropoulos G, Premji S, Kahlert SM, Zumwalt K, Korczak DJ, von Ranson KM, Pador P, Ganshorn H, Neville RD. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Child and Adolescent Healthcare Utilization for Eating Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:S0890-8567(24)00077-7. [PMID: 38431196 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a meta-analysis documenting healthcare service utilization rates for pediatric (age <19 years) eating disorders during compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched for studies published up to May 19, 2023. Studies with pediatric visits to primary care, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department for eating disorders before and during the pandemic were included. This preregistered review (PROSPERO CRD42023413392) was reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were analyzed with random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS A total of 52 studies reporting >148,000 child and adolescent eating disorder-related visits to >300 health settings across 15 countries were included (mean age, 12.7 years; SD = 4.1 years; 87% girls). There was strong evidence of an increase in healthcare use for eating disorders during the pandemic (rate ratio [RR] = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.38-1.71). Moderator analysis revealed larger rate increases among girls (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.28-1.71) compared to boys (RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.06-1.45) and for adolescents (age ≥12 to 19 years) (RR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.29-1.81) compared to children (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.53-1.43). Moderator analysis demonstrated strong evidence of increased use of emergency department (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.48-1.97), inpatient (RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.33-1.84), and outpatient (RR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.35-1.95) services, as well as strong evidence of increased rates of anorexia nervosa (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.24-1.75). CONCLUSION Healthcare use for pediatric eating disorders increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among girls and adolescents. It is important to continue to monitor whether changes in healthcare use associated with acute pediatric mental distress are sustained beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY PREREGISTRATION INFORMATION Risk factors for eating disorders for youth during the COVID-19 pandemic; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/; CRD42023413392. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as living with a disability. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our reference list. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri Madigan
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
| | | | - Gina Dimitropoulos
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Daphne J Korczak
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kristin M von Ranson
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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Cappelletto P, Luca LD, Taddei B, Taddei S, Nocentini A, Pisano T. COVID-19 pandemic impact among adolescents with eating disorders referred to Italian psychiatric unit. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING 2024; 37:e12440. [PMID: 37737719 DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
PROBLEM The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered or exacerbated eating disorders (EDs), especially in adolescents. This study examined the prevalence of admissions of patients with EDs at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic to March 2023 and explored the differences in dimensions of ED's symptomatology according to the year of access. METHODS We included 174 children and adolescents, 94.3% females and 5.7% males, with a diagnosis of ED (Mage = 14.87; SD = 1.72). The Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) and Youth Self Report ASEBA (YSR) were assessed. A one-way analysis of variance test was performed. FINDINGS EDs' hospitalization prevalence was higher in the years 2020 and 2021 compared to pre-COVID-19 and the year 2022. Considering the ED psychopathology (EDI-3), findings showed a higher score in the dimension of the push to thinness, body dissatisfaction, asceticism, and fear of maturity in the year 2021 compared to pre-pandemic. Regarding the discomfort related to the image of one's own body (BUT), results showed an increase in the global severity index in the year 2022 compared to pre-pandemic and in weight phobia in the year 2021 compared to the year 2020. Concerning the internalizing symptoms (YSR), a tendency was found for withdrawal/depression, with higher levels in the year 2022 compared to the year 2020. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlighted the increase of different types of EDs symptomatology related to concerns about weight, especially 2 and 3 years after the outbreak of the pandemic, on which the literature is still scarce, especially in the Italian context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Cappelletto
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa De Luca
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Taddei
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Taddei
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
| | - Annalaura Nocentini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pisano
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
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Toigo S, Katzman DK, Vyver E, McFaull SR, Iynkkaran I, Thompson W. Eating disorder hospitalizations among children and youth in Canada from 2010 to 2022: a population-based surveillance study using administrative data. J Eat Disord 2024; 12:3. [PMID: 38167164 PMCID: PMC10763198 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00957-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eating disorders (EDs) are severe mental illnesses associated with significant morbidity and mortality. EDs are more prevalent among females and adolescents. Limited research has investigated Canadian trends of ED hospitalizations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, however during the pandemic, rates of ED hospitalizations have increased. This study examined rates of ED hospitalizations among children and youth in Canada from 2010 to 2022, by sex, age, province/territory, length of stay, discharge disposition and ED diagnosis. METHODS Cases of ED hospitalizations among children and youth, ages 5 to 17 years, were identified using available ICD-10 codes in the Discharge Abstract Database from the 2010/11 to 2022/23 fiscal years. The EDs examined in this study were anorexia nervosa (F50.0), atypical anorexia nervosa (F50.1), bulimia nervosa (F50.2), other EDs (F50.3, F50.8) and unspecified EDs (F50.9). Both cases of total and first-time ED hospitalizations were examined. Descriptive statistics and trend analyses were performed. RESULTS Between 2010/11 and 2022/23, 18,740 children and youth were hospitalized for an ED, 65.9% of which were first-time hospitalizations. The most frequent diagnosis was anorexia nervosa (51.3%). Females had significantly higher rates of ED hospitalization compared to males (66.7/100,000 vs. 5.9/100,000). Youth had significantly higher rates compared to children. The average age of ED hospitalization was 14.7 years. Rates of ED hospitalizations were relatively stable pre-pandemic, however during the pandemic (2020-2021), rates increased. INTERPRETATION Rates of pediatric ED hospitalizations in Canada increased significantly during the pandemic, suggesting that there may have been limited access to alternative care for EDs or that ED cases became more severe and required hospitalization. This emphasizes the need for continued surveillance to monitor how rates of ED hospitalizations evolve post-pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Toigo
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Debra K Katzman
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ellie Vyver
- Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Alberta Children's Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Steven R McFaull
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Ithayavani Iynkkaran
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Wendy Thompson
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
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Piątkowska-Chmiel I, Krawiec P, Ziętara KJ, Pawłowski P, Samardakiewicz M, Pac-Kożuchowska E, Herbet M. The Impact of Chronic Stress Related to COVID-19 on Eating Behaviors and the Risk of Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Nutrients 2023; 16:54. [PMID: 38201884 PMCID: PMC10780384 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity in children was observed. It appears that unhealthy food choices, an unbalanced diet, and a sedentary lifestyle, as well as experiencing stress related to the pandemic, may be contributing to this disturbing trend. Chronic stress is a significant factor contributing to eating disorders and obesity in youngsters, involving medical, molecular, and psychological elements. Individuals under chronic stress often focus on appearance and weight, leading to negative body image and disrupted relationships with food, resulting in unhealthy eating behaviors. Chronic stress also impacts hormonal balance, reducing the satiety hormone leptin and elevating the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, fostering increased hunger and uncontrolled snacking. Two systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic system with the adrenal medulla, are activated in response to stress, causing impaired secretion of noradrenaline and cortisol. Stress-related obesity mechanisms encompass oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, and neurohormonal and neurotransmission disorders. Stress induces insulin resistance, elevating obesity risk by disrupting blood sugar regulation and fat storage. Stress also affects the gut microbiome, potentially influencing chronic inflammation and metabolic processes linked to obesity. In conclusion, chronic stress is a multifaceted risk factor for eating disorders and obesity in children, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of effective preventive and intervention strategies amid the escalating prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Piątkowska-Chmiel
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Paulina Krawiec
- Department of Paediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 1 Street, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (P.K.); (E.P.-K.)
| | - Karolina Joanna Ziętara
- Student Scientific Association at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (K.J.Z.); (P.P.)
| | - Piotr Pawłowski
- Student Scientific Association at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (K.J.Z.); (P.P.)
| | - Marzena Samardakiewicz
- Department of Psychology, Psychosocial Aspects of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 7 Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska
- Department of Paediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 1 Street, 20-059 Lublin, Poland; (P.K.); (E.P.-K.)
| | - Mariola Herbet
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
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Paladini G, Sciurpa E, Onorati R, Elhadidy HSMA, Giacomini G, Mamo C, Borraccino A. Gender and Age Influence on Emergency Department Visits for Non-Suicidal Self-Injuries in School Aged Children in Italy: An 11 Years Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1606370. [PMID: 38164389 PMCID: PMC10757917 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) poses a threat in developmental ages, yet there is a scarcity of studies on NSSI trends, especially those in emergency departments (ED). Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to describe trends in ED visits for NSSI among young people aged between 5 and 19 years in Italy from 2011 to 2021 in Piedmont. From the ministerial ED discharge information system, all occurring NSSIs were identified by medical report and/or ICD9CM code and reported as a population rate and a visit rate on all ED requests. Results: The general rate of ED visits remained stable, with around 210,000 (55% males) visits each year, along the whole period from 2011 to 2019, then halved during 2020 and 2021. The NSSI population and visits rates increased from 2013, peaking in 2019 at a rate of around 25 and 23 NSSI visits (girls) and 76 and 69 NSSI (boys) per 100,000 ED visits. In 2020 and 2021, the rate of NSSI visits increased, particularly in girls and among older adolescents. Conclusion: The gradual increase of NSSI over the last decade is a rising public health issue, which deserves wider attention to ensure early detection and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Paladini
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Sciurpa
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Roberta Onorati
- Regional Public Health Observatory, Epidemiology Unit, Local Health Board TO3, Grugliasco, Italy
| | | | - Gianmarco Giacomini
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Carlo Mamo
- Regional Public Health Observatory, Epidemiology Unit, Local Health Board TO3, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Alberto Borraccino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Aymerich M, Castelló A, Cladellas R. Efficacy of a Contextualized Measurement of Life Satisfaction: A Pilot Study on the Assessment of Progress in Eating Disorder Therapy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14452. [PMID: 36361328 PMCID: PMC9656872 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Eating disorders strongly affect psychological distress and its perception. However, most of the existing instruments for assessing life satisfaction rely on a point-estimation method that is biased due to the circumstantial conditions around the time of assessment. The main goal of this study was to apply a different kind of instrument-the Life Satisfaction Chart-that situates the current state of life satisfaction in the context of personal history and describes the life stages through a graph. The assessment was applied to a sample of 29 adolescent women (average age of 17.88) who were enrolled in a clinical program to treat their eating disorders. The results showed that their estimation of their current life satisfaction was almost identical to the estimation provided by a therapist for those who were in therapy phases 1, 2, and 3 (of four), while patients' point-estimation satisfaction showed statistically significant differences when compared with the situated estimations. In therapy phase 4, significant discrepancies were observed between the therapist's perception and the patients' perception, because the therapist focused only on eating disorder recovery, whilst the patients evaluated their lives under almost-normal conditions, taking into account further dimensions. The Life Satisfaction Chart is a new approach to life-satisfaction measurement that showed promising measurement and therapeutical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Aymerich
- Institute of Research on Quality of Life, University of Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain
| | - Antoni Castelló
- Department of Basic, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Cladellas
- Department of Basic, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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