Anorexia Nervosa

Severe Anorexia Nervosa: Outcomes from a Medical Stabilization Unit

International Journal of Eating Disorders
By Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Abstract

Objective: We report data from the medical stabilization and refeeding of patients with severe anorexia nervosa admitted over a 15-month period.

Method: Through chart review and computerized data collection, we evaluated demographic and clinical data from 25 consecutive patients admitted to our medical stabilization unit from October 2008 to January 2010.

Results: In this adult-patient population with a median body mass index (BMI) of 13.1 kg/m(2) (interquartile range, 11.0-14.4), 44% developed hypoglycemia, 76% had abnormal liver function, 83% had abnormal bone density, 45% developed refeeding hypophosphatemia, and 92% were hypothermic. Severe liver function abnormality predicted the development of hypoglycemia (p = 0.02, OR 9.78, CI: 1.55-61.65). No clinical features predicted hypophosphatemia, including admission BMI (p = 0.19), serum glucose level (p = 0.21), elevated liver function tests (p = 0.39 for AST), or initial amount of kilocalories consumed (p = 0.06).

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20889
Written by
Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Dr. Mehler founded ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition in 2001. He began his career at Denver Health more than 35 years ago and was formerly its Chief of Internal Medicine and…

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