The impact of COVID-19 on eating disorder referrals and admissions in Waikato, New Zealand.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several countries have reported increased demand for eating disorder services during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for adolescents. Within New Zealand, anecdotal and media reports suggest similar changes but are limited in scope and detail. We assessed eating disorder service demand in the Waikato district in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed records of eating disorder admissions and referrals for both children (< 18 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) during 2019 and 2020 in the Waikato, a mixed urban-rural province in northern New Zealand (population 435,000). We analysed medical admission and outpatient referral rates, and referral acuity, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic using Welch's t- and chi-square tests.

Result

SUBMITTER: Hansen SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8397868 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature