Objective: This study describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of youth hospitalized with an eating disorder, using the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database.
Method: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine and compare PHIS inpatients (N = 1,713) with a primary discharge diagnosis of anorexia, bulimia, or eating disorder, not otherwise specified.
Results: Of pediatric inpatients with eating disorders, 92% were female and 78% were non-Hispanic white. Their mean age was 15.3 years; 71% had anorexia; 68% had one or more comorbid psychiatric disorders; 53% stayed on a psychiatric unit; the mean length of stay was 15.7 days. Private insurance paid for 55% of hospital stays. Patients without private insurance were more likely than patients with private insurance to be Black or Hispanic and to have comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.
Conclusion: This study provides new information that can be used by hospitals to anticipate developmental and treatment needs of future inpatients with eating disorders.
(c) 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.