Risk of major adverse perinatal outcomes in women with eating disorders.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight, prematurity and higher miscarriage rates have previously been reported in women with eating disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether women with a history of eating disorders are at higher risk of major adverse perinatal outcomes.


METHODS
Adjusted birth weight, preterm delivery and miscarriage history were compared in those with a history of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa (n=171), bulimia nervosa (n=199) and both (n=82)) and those with other (n=1166) and no psychiatric disorders (n=10 636) in a longitudinal cohort study.


RESULTS
The group with bulimia nervosa had significantly higher rates of past miscarriages (relative risk ratio 2.0, P=0.01) and the group with anorexia nervosa delivered babies of significantly lower birth weight than the general population (P=0.01), which was mainly explained by lower pre-pregnancy body mass index. Preterm delivery rates were comparable across groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with a history of eating disorders are at higher risk of major adverse obstetric outcomes. Antenatal services should be aware of this higher risk.
Micali
Nadia
N
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Box 085, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. N.Micali@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Simonoff
Emily
E
Treasure
Janet
J
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors