title: Outcomes of an inpatient refeeding protocol in youth with Anorexia Nervosa and atypical Anorexia Nervosa at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Historically, inpatient protocols have adopted relatively conservative approaches to refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in order to reduce the risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal constellation of symptoms. However, increasing evidence suggests that patients with AN can tolerate higher caloric prescriptions during treatment, which may result in prevention of initial weight loss, shorter hospital stays, and less exposure to the effects of severe malnutrition. Therefore the present study sought to examine the effectiveness of a more accelerated refeeding protocol in an inpatient AN and atypical AN sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were youth (ages 10-22) with AN (n= 113) and atypical AN (n= 16) who were hospitalized for medical stabilization. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess changes in calories, weight status (percentage of median BMI, %mBMI), and indicators of refeeding syndrome, specifically hypophosphatemia, during hospitalization. Weight was assessed again approximately 4 weeks after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No cases of refeeding syndrome were observed, though 47.3 % of participants evidenced hypophosphatemia during treatment. Phosphorous levels were monitored in all participants, and 77.5 % were prescribed supplemental phosphorous at the time of discharge. Higher rates of caloric changes were predictive of greater changes in %mBMI during hospitalization. Rates of caloric and weight change were not related to an increased likelihood of re-admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that a more accelerated approach to inpatient refeeding in youth with AN and atypical AN can be safely implemented and is not associated with refeeding syndrome, provided there is close monitoring and correction of electrolytes. These findings suggest that this approach has the potential to decrease length of stay and burden associated with inpatient hospitalization, while supporting continued progress after hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, North Dakota USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6555-0060
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brandenburg
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.affiliation: Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cici
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juenneman
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beadle
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eckhardt
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lantz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco, California USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Grange
keywords: Adolescents; Anorexia Nervosa; Children; Hypophosphatemia; Refeeding