The COVID-19 Pandemic and Canadian Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospitalizations for Anorexia Nervosa

ABSTRACT

databases. The analysis used negative binomial regression with robust standard errors to compare hospitalization counts in the months preceding and following the World Health Organization pandemic declaration (March 11, 2020). Results Hospitalizations due to pediatric AN increased by 63% and 132% at SickKids (p < .001) and ACH (p < .001), respectively, in the first year of the pandemic compared to the previous six years. The total number of non-ED hospitalizations decreased by 29.3% and 2.4% at SickKids and ACH, respectively. Discussion This is the first Canadian study to show a rise in pediatric hospitalizations over one year due to AN in two tertiary care hospitals following the onset of the pandemic, confirming the impact that the pandemic has had on children and adolescents with AN in Canada.