Paediatric ward stabilisation for restrictive eating disorders

Design

Retrospective two-centre cohort

Population

85 children and young people admitted for restrictive eating disorders, UK

Primary outcome

Length of stay, nutritional support, refeeding syndrome, discharge destination

Effect

Median stay 21 days; refeeding syndrome 24.1%; community discharge 61.4%

This retrospective study described 85 children and young people admitted to paediatric wards at two UK hospitals for medical stabilisation of a restrictive eating disorder between 2018 and 2022. Most were mid-adolescent girls; about half had anorexia nervosa. It was published in Archives of Disease in Childhood in September.

Median stay was 21 days. A quarter were medically unstable on admission. Oral supplements were needed in 36% and nasogastric feeding in 30%. Biochemical refeeding syndrome occurred in 24%. Most (61%) were discharged to community treatment; anorexia nervosa and lower % median BMI were associated with transfer for further inpatient care.

For general paediatric wards that take these admissions, the useful numbers are the refeeding rate and the length of stay, both of which shape monitoring and bed planning.

• Check phosphate, magnesium and potassium daily for the first week of refeeding.
• Record % median BMI on admission; it predicts onward inpatient care.
• Plan for a stay of about three weeks.
• Involve child mental health services from the first day.

Why it matters

It gives general paediatric wards baseline numbers for admissions they increasingly manage.

The statistics, in plain English

A descriptive series of 85 patients from two hospitals: the percentages are estimates with wide uncertainty and no comparison group.

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