Admission to acute medical wards for mental health concerns among children and young people in England from 2012 to 2022: a cohort study
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There are challenges in providing high quality care for children and young people who are admitted to acute medical wards for mental health concerns. Although there is concern that these admissions are increasing, national data describing these patterns are scarce. We aimed to describe trends in these admissions in England over a 10-year period, and to identify factors associated with repeat admission and length of stay.
METHODS
In this cohort study we used data on all admissions to medical wards in England among children and young people aged 5-18 years from April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2022. We classified admissions for mental health concerns using the Global Burden of Disease Study cause hierarchy. We described national trends in admissions for mental health concerns over time by sex, age, ethnicity, and index of multiple deprivation quintile. We examined associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors and odds of the admission lasting more than 1 week, as well as hazard ratios of repeat admissions, using mixed-effects models.
FINDINGS
We identified 342 511 admissions for any cause in children and young people aged 5-18 years in 2021-22 in England, of which 39 925 (11·7%) were for mental health concerns. 21 337 (53·4%) admissions for mental health concerns were due to self-harm. Between 2012-13 and 2021-22, annual admissions for mental health concerns increased from 24 198 to 39 925 (65·0% increase), whereas all-cause admissions increased from 311 067…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 239 participants or records.
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