diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index 74cbdc4f..318c5f2c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -936,10 +936,10 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
     },
     entityCache,
     profileCache,
-    recentlyRemovedIds: recentlyRemovedRef.current,
-    interactingWithIds: interactingWith,
-    currentItems: items,
-  });
+      recentlyRemovedIds: recentlyRemovedRef.current,
+      interactingWithIds: interactingWith,
+      currentItemsRef: itemsRef,
+    });
 
   return {
     items,
diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useRealtimeSubscriptions.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useRealtimeSubscriptions.ts
index 619d1b3e..3c4f9a6a 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useRealtimeSubscriptions.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useRealtimeSubscriptions.ts
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ export interface RealtimeSubscriptionConfig {
   /** Set of IDs currently being interacted with */
   interactingWithIds: Set<string>;
   
-  /** Current items in queue (for comparison) */
-  currentItems: ModerationItem[];
+  /** Current items in queue (for comparison) - using ref to avoid reconnections */
+  currentItemsRef: React.MutableRefObject<ModerationItem[]>;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function useRealtimeSubscriptions(
     profileCache,
     recentlyRemovedIds,
     interactingWithIds,
-    currentItems,
+    currentItemsRef,
   } = config;
 
   // Debounce management for UPDATE events
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ export function useRealtimeSubscriptions(
       const matchesEntity = matchesEntityFilter(updatedSubmission, filters.entityFilter);
       const matchesStatus = matchesStatusFilter(updatedSubmission, filters.statusFilter);
       
-      const wasInQueue = currentItems.some(i => i.id === updatedSubmission.id);
+      const wasInQueue = currentItemsRef.current.some(i => i.id === updatedSubmission.id);
       const shouldBeInQueue = matchesEntity && matchesStatus;
       
       if (wasInQueue && !shouldBeInQueue) {
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ export function useRealtimeSubscriptions(
         );
         
         // Check if item actually changed
-        const currentItem = currentItems.find(i => i.id === fullItem.id);
+        const currentItem = currentItemsRef.current.find(i => i.id === fullItem.id);
         if (currentItem && !hasItemChanged(currentItem, fullItem)) {
           console.log('✅ Realtime UPDATE: No changes detected for', fullItem.id);
           return;
@@ -392,7 +392,6 @@ export function useRealtimeSubscriptions(
     pauseWhenHidden,
     recentlyRemovedIds,
     interactingWithIds,
-    currentItems,
     debouncedUpdate,
     fetchSubmissionDetails,
     profileCache,