Physical illness encountered in patients with eating disorders.
Careful evaluation for medical illness with a severity rating scale of 276 eating-disorder patients admitted to hospital revealed that patients with anorexia and bulimia were at risk for developing medical complications. Severe cardiovascular complications were most likely to occur in eating-disorder patients who were also diuretic and/or laxative abusers. Forty percent of patients with bulimia had significant medical complications. The findings suggest that a medical work-up should be carefully undertaken in both anorexic and bulimic patients admitted to hospital. A mixed history of severe anorexia nervosa alternating with periods of bulimia was most likely to lead to severe life-threatening illness. Seventy percent of the bulimic patients admitted required some medical treatment. Five percent were considered severely medically ill, while 34% suffered from a significant medical disorder. Ten percent of patients with restrictive anorexia or anorexia alternating with binge/purge required intensive care unit (ICU) placement. Most illnesses requiring medical treatment were unknown to the patient and the patient's physician at the time of admission.
Hall
R C
RC
Hoffman
R S
RS
Beresford
T P
TP
Wooley
B
B
Hall
A K
AK
Kubasak
L
L
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012307:Risk Factors