Tweet
Translation Google
Increase in cases of scurvy among children in France since the COVID-19 pandemic
12/18/2024
The teams from the general pediatrics department and the reference center for inflammatory rheumatism and systemic autoimmune diseases in children (RAISE) at Robert-Debré AP-HP hospital, Inserm, Paris Cité University and the pediatrics department of Cayenne hospital in Guyana, coordinated by Drs Zein Assad, Maelle Trad and Professor Ulrich Meinzer, carried out a study on the increase in scurvy disease in children in France since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The results of this study were published on December 6, 2024 in the journal The Lancet Regional Health – Europe .
Scurvy is a disease caused by a profound vitamin C deficiency that had virtually disappeared in high-income countries, particularly in Europe, by the end of the 20th century. Scurvy can cause, among other things, intense bone pain and disabling muscle weakness, hemorrhages, and a deterioration in general health. The worrying return of this disease highlights the possible consequences of the increase in socio-economic insecurity since 2020 on the nutritional status of children in France.
The main objective of the study was to assess trends in the incidence of scurvy in hospitalized children in France over a nine-year period and to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also analyzed the evolution of malnutrition, differentiating severe forms from moderate and mild forms.
This study is based on data collected from the national PMSI system (program for the medicalization of information systems). It included patients aged 18 years and under, suffering from scurvy and severe malnutrition, between January 2015 and November 2023. The study covers two distinct periods: pre-pandemic (2015-2020) and post-pandemic (2020-2023). Socioeconomic factors such as the consumer price index were integrated to assess correlations with disease incidence.
A total of 888 patients with scurvy were hospitalized, with an average age of 11 years. The increase in hospitalizations is estimated at 34.5% after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the increase in cases of severe malnutrition, estimated at 20.3%, supports the link between scurvy and a deterioration in the nutritional status of children. The increase in cases of scurvy and severe malnutrition was associated with a worsening of socioeconomic insecurity and inflation. This association does not necessarily constitute a causal relationship, although plausible.
The re-emergence of scurvy can be linked to different causes including environmental, social and dietary factors. It is also important to highlight the unexpected impact of the pandemic and the global socio-economic and political crises that followed it on the worsening of food insecurity. For example, in France, food price inflation reached 15% in early 2023, particularly affecting precarious families.
Following the results of this study, recommendations could be proposed, particularly regarding the implementation of targeted food aid programs, improving access to nutritious and affordable foods, as well as strengthening clinical training for the prevention and early detection of nutritional deficiencies.
References: Zein Assad, Maelle Trad1, Zaba Valtuille, Cécile Dumaine, Albert Faye, Tania Ikowsky, Florentia Kaguelidou, Lindsay Osei, Naim Ouldali, Ulrich Meinzer – Lancet Regional Health
-----------------------------------
Scurvy incidence trend among children hospitalised in France, 2015–2023: a population-based interrupted time-series analysis
Author links open overlay panel
Zein Assad a b c i, Maelle Trad a i , Zaba Valtuille d ,
Cécile Dumaine a , Albert Faye a e , Tania Ikowsky a , Florentia Kaguelidou d f , Lindsay Osei b g , Naim Ouldali a c , Ulrich Meinzer a h
...
Background
Scurvy, historically rare in-high income countries, has re-emerged as an indicator of socioeconomic and dietary disparities. Limited data exist on scurvy trends among European children, particularly following socioeconomic changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analysed scurvy incidence trends among French children over a nine-year period, examining potential post-pandemic increases.
Findings
A total of 888 children were hospitalized with scurvy (median age, 11 years; interquartile range [IQR], 4–15; 431 boys [48.5%]). The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 was associated with a significant increase in scurvy incidence (cumulative increase, 34.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7–56.3; p = 0.002) and severe malnutrition (cumulative increase, 20.3%; 95% CI, 10.7–29.9; p < 0.001). The increased incidence of scurvy was correlated with the rise in the consumer price index. In contrast, no change was found for the two control outcomes.
Interpretation
This study identifies a significant increase in scurvy and severe malnutrition post-COVID-19, associated with inflation and socioeconomic instability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted nutritional support for at-risk paediatric populations.
...
Increase in cases of scurvy among children in France since the COVID-19 pandemic
12/18/2024
The teams from the general pediatrics department and the reference center for inflammatory rheumatism and systemic autoimmune diseases in children (RAISE) at Robert-Debré AP-HP hospital, Inserm, Paris Cité University and the pediatrics department of Cayenne hospital in Guyana, coordinated by Drs Zein Assad, Maelle Trad and Professor Ulrich Meinzer, carried out a study on the increase in scurvy disease in children in France since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The results of this study were published on December 6, 2024 in the journal The Lancet Regional Health – Europe .
Scurvy is a disease caused by a profound vitamin C deficiency that had virtually disappeared in high-income countries, particularly in Europe, by the end of the 20th century. Scurvy can cause, among other things, intense bone pain and disabling muscle weakness, hemorrhages, and a deterioration in general health. The worrying return of this disease highlights the possible consequences of the increase in socio-economic insecurity since 2020 on the nutritional status of children in France.
The main objective of the study was to assess trends in the incidence of scurvy in hospitalized children in France over a nine-year period and to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also analyzed the evolution of malnutrition, differentiating severe forms from moderate and mild forms.
This study is based on data collected from the national PMSI system (program for the medicalization of information systems). It included patients aged 18 years and under, suffering from scurvy and severe malnutrition, between January 2015 and November 2023. The study covers two distinct periods: pre-pandemic (2015-2020) and post-pandemic (2020-2023). Socioeconomic factors such as the consumer price index were integrated to assess correlations with disease incidence.
A total of 888 patients with scurvy were hospitalized, with an average age of 11 years. The increase in hospitalizations is estimated at 34.5% after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the increase in cases of severe malnutrition, estimated at 20.3%, supports the link between scurvy and a deterioration in the nutritional status of children. The increase in cases of scurvy and severe malnutrition was associated with a worsening of socioeconomic insecurity and inflation. This association does not necessarily constitute a causal relationship, although plausible.
The re-emergence of scurvy can be linked to different causes including environmental, social and dietary factors. It is also important to highlight the unexpected impact of the pandemic and the global socio-economic and political crises that followed it on the worsening of food insecurity. For example, in France, food price inflation reached 15% in early 2023, particularly affecting precarious families.
Following the results of this study, recommendations could be proposed, particularly regarding the implementation of targeted food aid programs, improving access to nutritious and affordable foods, as well as strengthening clinical training for the prevention and early detection of nutritional deficiencies.
References: Zein Assad, Maelle Trad1, Zaba Valtuille, Cécile Dumaine, Albert Faye, Tania Ikowsky, Florentia Kaguelidou, Lindsay Osei, Naim Ouldali, Ulrich Meinzer – Lancet Regional Health
-----------------------------------
Scurvy incidence trend among children hospitalised in France, 2015–2023: a population-based interrupted time-series analysis
Author links open overlay panel
Zein Assad a b c i, Maelle Trad a i , Zaba Valtuille d ,
Cécile Dumaine a , Albert Faye a e , Tania Ikowsky a , Florentia Kaguelidou d f , Lindsay Osei b g , Naim Ouldali a c , Ulrich Meinzer a h
...
Background
Scurvy, historically rare in-high income countries, has re-emerged as an indicator of socioeconomic and dietary disparities. Limited data exist on scurvy trends among European children, particularly following socioeconomic changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analysed scurvy incidence trends among French children over a nine-year period, examining potential post-pandemic increases.
Findings
A total of 888 children were hospitalized with scurvy (median age, 11 years; interquartile range [IQR], 4–15; 431 boys [48.5%]). The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 was associated with a significant increase in scurvy incidence (cumulative increase, 34.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7–56.3; p = 0.002) and severe malnutrition (cumulative increase, 20.3%; 95% CI, 10.7–29.9; p < 0.001). The increased incidence of scurvy was correlated with the rise in the consumer price index. In contrast, no change was found for the two control outcomes.
Interpretation
This study identifies a significant increase in scurvy and severe malnutrition post-COVID-19, associated with inflation and socioeconomic instability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted nutritional support for at-risk paediatric populations.
...
Comment