Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of eating disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) develop more frequently in young females. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been evidence of an increase in children and adolescents, with an earlier onset and a worse body weight and nutritional status. The aim of this study was to determine whether this trend has also been observed in our region over the past 6 years.

Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive cohort study in paediatric patients with a diagnosis of ED, referred during the 3 years preceding and following the declaration of the state of alarm due to the pandemic. We analysed and compared clinical, anthropometric and laboratory variables and bioelectrical impedance and bone density data.

Results: Of the 129 patients in the sample, 28 were referred before the lockdown period and 101 after. When we compared these groups, we found a longer time elapsed from onset to the initial assessment (mean delay, 11.87 [SD, 6.75] vs. 6.64 [SD, 4.36] months), a greater hospitalization rate (14.1% vs. 10.1%), and lower vitamin D values (mean level, 28.19 [SD, 9.95] vs. 34.39 [SD, 11.87] ng/mL) in the post-lockdown group. We also found a greater frequency of self-harm suicide attempts in these patients.

Conclusions: This study confirms the increasing trend in EDs in children and adolescents in our area. Moreover, we found differences in the clinical characteristics and time elapsed to diagnosis compared to the patients referred to the hospital before the pandemic.

Keywords: Anorexia nerviosa; Anorexia nervosa; Bioelectrical impedance; COVID-19; Eating disorders; Impedancia eléctrica; Pandemia; Pandemic; Trastornos de conducta alimentaria.