Faculty Collaboration Database

Pediatric Feeding Disorder: A Nationwide Prevalence Study. J Pediatr 2021 Jan;228:126-131.e3

Date

07/24/2020

Pubmed ID

32702429

DOI

10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.047

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85089596509 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   67 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) in US children.

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid Databases from Arizona (2009-2017) and Wisconsin (2005-2014) (public insurance databases) and The Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database (2009-2015) (a nationwide private insurance database). Diagnoses and procedures were identified from inpatient and outpatient claims using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes and ICD and Current Procedural Terminology-4 procedure codes. Children with PFD were identified by presence of 1 or more PFD diagnosis and absence of any eating disorder diagnoses within a calendar year.

RESULTS: We identified 126 002 and 367 256 children 5 years of age or younger with PFD with public and private insurance, respectively. Over a 5-year period (2009-2014) the prevalences of PFD in children with public insurance in Arizona and Wisconsin were 32.91 (95% CI, 32.61-33.20) and 34.73 (95% CI, 34.37-35.09) children per 1000 child-years, respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of PFD in private insurance carriers was 21.07 (95% CI, 21.00-21.14) children per 1000 child-years. The prevalence trends showed a significant linear increase in children within both insurance cohorts. In 2014, the annual prevalence of PFD was 1 in 23, 1 in 24, and 1 in 37 in children under 5 years in the publicly insured cohorts in Wisconsin, Arizona, and the privately insured cohort, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of feeding disorders in the US rivals that of commonly diagnosed conditions such as eating disorders and autism.

Author List

Kovacic K, Rein LE, Szabo A, Kommareddy S, Bhagavatula P, Goday PS

Authors

Pradeep Bhagavatula BDS, MPH, MS Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Clinical Services department at Marquette University
Karlo Kovacic MD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lisa E. Rein Biostatistician III in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Aniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Insurance, Health
Male
Population Surveillance
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
United States