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Four-Fold Increase of the Number of Children Diagnosed With Paediatric Feeding Disorder in Northern Sweden in 2012–2022

Gustavsson, Elsa ; Kölgran, Martina ; Jonsson, Maria ; Lamm, Kajsa LU orcid and Chmielewska, Anna (2025) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics 114(9). p.2238-2245
Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the annual prevalence and characteristics of Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) in Västerbotten county, Sweden, during the years 2012–2022. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients attending paediatric clinics with possible feeding problems were identified by applying pre-defined diagnostic and procedure codes. Diagnostic criteria of PFD were verified. Additional data including nutritional status and enteral feeding tube placement were retrieved. Results: Annual prevalence of PFD increased from 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9–1.5) per 1000 children in 2012 to 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4–5.6) per 1000 children in 2022. In 2022, the prevalence in children < 5 years of age was 10.2 (95% CI,... (More)

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the annual prevalence and characteristics of Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) in Västerbotten county, Sweden, during the years 2012–2022. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients attending paediatric clinics with possible feeding problems were identified by applying pre-defined diagnostic and procedure codes. Diagnostic criteria of PFD were verified. Additional data including nutritional status and enteral feeding tube placement were retrieved. Results: Annual prevalence of PFD increased from 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9–1.5) per 1000 children in 2012 to 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4–5.6) per 1000 children in 2022. In 2022, the prevalence in children < 5 years of age was 10.2 (95% CI, 8.7–12.0) per 1000. Of those, 28% had thinness grades 2 or 3 (moderate or severe thinness), and 31% were fed via nasogastric tube or gastrostomy. Conclusion: Prevalence of PFD has increased in the last decade, most notably for children under the age of five. High rates of malnutrition and enteral feeding in our study population indicate that we identified only the most severe cases of PFD. Given the rising prevalence of PFD, further research on the condition is of high priority.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ARFID, feeding, nutrition, Paediatric Feeding Disorder
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
volume
114
issue
9
pages
8 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105004189307
  • pmid:40296216
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.70096
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b87d1198-748d-43f4-a065-495745c26518
date added to LUP
2025-09-19 10:43:54
date last changed
2025-09-20 03:00:08
@article{b87d1198-748d-43f4-a065-495745c26518,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the annual prevalence and characteristics of Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) in Västerbotten county, Sweden, during the years 2012–2022. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients attending paediatric clinics with possible feeding problems were identified by applying pre-defined diagnostic and procedure codes. Diagnostic criteria of PFD were verified. Additional data including nutritional status and enteral feeding tube placement were retrieved. Results: Annual prevalence of PFD increased from 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9–1.5) per 1000 children in 2012 to 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4–5.6) per 1000 children in 2022. In 2022, the prevalence in children &lt; 5 years of age was 10.2 (95% CI, 8.7–12.0) per 1000. Of those, 28% had thinness grades 2 or 3 (moderate or severe thinness), and 31% were fed via nasogastric tube or gastrostomy. Conclusion: Prevalence of PFD has increased in the last decade, most notably for children under the age of five. High rates of malnutrition and enteral feeding in our study population indicate that we identified only the most severe cases of PFD. Given the rising prevalence of PFD, further research on the condition is of high priority.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gustavsson, Elsa and Kölgran, Martina and Jonsson, Maria and Lamm, Kajsa and Chmielewska, Anna}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  keywords     = {{ARFID; feeding; nutrition; Paediatric Feeding Disorder}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{2238--2245}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{Four-Fold Increase of the Number of Children Diagnosed With Paediatric Feeding Disorder in Northern Sweden in 2012–2022}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.70096}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.70096}},
  volume       = {{114}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}