Mortality rates in patients with eating disorders

January 01, 0001

Mortality rates in patients with eating disorders

These UK and Danish authors systematically compiled and analyzed the mortality rates in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The included English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 1966, and September 30, 2010, that reported mortality rates in patients with eating disorders. Primary data were extracted as raw numbers or confidence intervals and corrected for years of observation and sample size (ie, person-years of observation).

They found: "From 143 potentially relevant articles, we found 36 quantitative studies with sufficient data for extraction. The studies reported outcomes of AN during 166,642 person-years, BN during 32,798 person-years, and EDNOS during 22,644 person-years. The weighted mortality rates (ie, deaths per 1000 person-years) were 5.1 for AN, 1.7 for BN, and 3.3 for EDNOS. The standardized mortality ratios were 5.86 for AN, 1.93 for BN, and 1.92 for EDNOS. One in 5 individuals with AN who died had committed suicide."

The authors concluded: "Individuals with eating disorders have significantly elevated mortality rates, with the highest rates occurring in those with AN. The mortality rates for BN and EDNOS are similar. The study found age at assessment to be a significant predictor of mortality for patients with AN. Further research is needed to identify predictors of mortality in patients with BN and EDNOS."

A good reminder that eating disorders can be associated fatal outcomes.


For the full abstract, click here.

Arch Gen Psychiatry 68(7):724-731, July 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
Mortality Rates in Patients With Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders-A Meta-analysis of 36 Studies. Jon Arcelus, Alex J. Mitchell, Jackie Wales, Søren Nielsen. Correspondence to Dr. Arcelus: [email protected]

Category: P. Psychological, T. Endocrine/Metabolic/Nutritional. Keywords: eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, mortality, meta-analysis of observational studies, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 15 July 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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