Matthews A, Kramer RA, Peterson CM, et al. - During distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, including pre-COVID-19 (n = 136), COVID-19 lockdown (n = 3), and post COVID-19 lockdown (n = 24), inpatient census and readmission rates among youth (aged 8–18) hospitalized for medical complications of anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) were examined.

• Significant increase in inpatient admission rates for youth with AN/AAN occurred after pandemic onset.

• 8.68 times higher likelihood of rapid readmission appeared among patients admitted since COVID-19.

• COVID-19 was described as the primary correlate of AN/AAN development/exacerbation by one-third of hospitalized patients.