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Hercus C, Baird A, Ibrahim S, Turnbull P, Appleby L, Singh U, Kapur N. Suicide in individuals with eating disorders who had sought mental health treatment in England: a national retrospective cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry 2024; 11:592-600. [PMID: 39025631 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(24)00143-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although studies have suggested a high risk of suicide in people with eating disorders, most studies have focused on suicidal ideation and attempts. There is little research on the characteristics of people with eating disorders who died by suicide, nor investigation of trends over time. We aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with eating disorders who died by suicide versus patients with other mental health diagnoses who died by suicide in England and to examine the trends in rates. METHODS In this national retrospective cohort study, data on all people (aged ≥10 years) who died by suicide in England, UK, between Jan 1, 1997, and Dec 31, 2021, while under the care (within the previous 12 months) of mental health services were obtained from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), in which clinical information is collected via a questionnaire completed by the mental health professional responsible for the patient's care. Incidence of suicide in, and demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of, patients with a diagnosis of eating disorder (as recorded by the treating clinician) who died by suicide were compared with patients with other mental health diagnoses who died by suicide within the same timeframe using univariable logistic regression analysis. People with related lived experience were involved in the study design, implementation, interpretation, and writing of the manuscript. FINDINGS Of 119 446 people for whom NCISH were notified of dying by suicide in England, 30 795 were under the recent care of mental health services, of whom 30 246 had known diagnoses and were included in analyses. Of these individuals, 10 373 (34%) were female and 19 873 (66%) were male; 2236 (8%) were of minority ethnicity; 382 (1%) had a diagnosis of eating disorder and 29 864 (99%) had another mental health diagnosis. Compared with patients with other mental health diagnoses who died by suicide, patients with eating disorders were younger (median age 33 years [range 15-90] vs 45 years [10-100]), more often female (343 [90%] female and 39 [10%] male in the eating disorders group; 10 030 [34%] female and 19 834 [66%] male in the other diagnoses group), and less likely to have evidence of conventional risk factors for suicide such as living alone (odds ratio [OR] 0·68, 95% CI 0·55-0·84). 22 (6%) of 382 were from a minority ethnic group. Patients with an eating disorder were characterised by a greater clinical complexity (eg, self-harm [OR 2·31, 95% CI 1·78-3·00], comorbidity [9·79, 6·81-14·1], and longer duration of illness [1·95, 1·56-2·43]), and were more likely to have died following overdoses (2·00, 1·62-2·45) than patients with other diagnoses. Childhood abuse (52 [37%] of 140) and domestic violence (18 [20%] of 91) were common in patients with eating disorders. Similar to patients with other diagnoses, most (244 [75%] of 326) of those with eating disorders who died by suicide were rated as low risk by clinicians at last contact. The number of suicide deaths in patients with eating disorders rose between 1997 and 2021 (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1·03, 95% CI 1·02-1·05; p<0·0001), but rates fell when accounting for the greater number of patients entering mental health services (IRR 0·97, 0·95-1·00; p=0·033). INTERPRETATION This study was focused on people who sought help from mental health services. It did not consider subtypes of eating disorders or include a control group, but it does highlight possible areas for intervention. The comprehensive provision of evidence-based treatment for eating disorders and underlying conditions to address the clinical complexity in these patients might help to reduce suicide. Recognising limitations in clinical risk assessment, addressing early life experiences and current adversities, and appropriate prescribing might also be of benefit. Suicide prevention must remain a priority for eating disorder services and mental health care more widely. FUNDING The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Hercus
- Department of Psychiatry, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Alison Baird
- National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Saied Ibrahim
- National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Pauline Turnbull
- National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Louis Appleby
- National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Urvashnee Singh
- Esus Centre Integrated Eating Disorder Day Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Nav Kapur
- National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), Centre for Mental Health and Safety, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Søeby M, Gribsholt SB, Clausen L, Richelsen B. Overall and cause-specific mortality in anorexia nervosa; impact of psychiatric comorbidity and sex in a 40-year follow-up study. Int J Eat Disord 2024. [PMID: 38863340 DOI: 10.1002/eat.24223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates the overall and cause-specific mortality in males and females with anorexia nervosa (AN) from 1977 to 2018, focusing on the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on mortality risk, a less explored aspect despite a high prevalence in patients with AN. METHOD We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark including all patients with AN (n = 14,774) with a median follow-up time of 9.1 years and a 1:10 age- and sex-matched general population comparison cohort. Using Cox proportional hazard model, we calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for death stratified by psychiatric comorbidity, sex, and age at AN onset and evaluated the causes of death using Fine and Gray sub-distribution hazard ratios (SHR). RESULTS In patients with AN, the weighted average aHR for all-cause mortality was 4.5 [95% CI 4.1-4.9] with up to 40 years follow-up. Psychiatric comorbidity was present in 47% of patients with AN at index date, which was associated with a 1.9-fold increase in 10-year mortality compared with patients without comorbidity and a notably four-fold increase, when diagnosed at age 6-25 years. The mortality risk was similar according to sex. 13.9% of all deaths in patients with AN were due to suicide (SHR 10.7 [8.1-14.2]). The risk of dying of natural causes was increased with a SHR of 3.8 [95% CI 3.4-4.2]. DISCUSSION The increased mortality risk in both males and females with AN and psychiatric comorbidity, particularly when diagnosed at young age, underscores the need for comprehensive treatment addressing both AN and coexisting psychiatric conditions. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE The mortality in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is high and we show in our study that the mortality is doubled in the presence of psychiatric comorbidity particularly the first 10 years after diagnosis seen in both sexes and with suicide as a major cause of death. These findings stress the importance of detection and treatment of psychiatric comorbidities alongside the eating disorder to prevent fatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Søeby
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sigrid Bjerge Gribsholt
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Loa Clausen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Richelsen
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Larsen JT, Yilmaz Z, Bulik CM, Albiñana C, Vilhjálmsson BJ, Mortensen PB, Petersen LV. Diagnosed eating disorders in Danish registers - incidence, prevalence, mortality, and polygenic risk. Psychiatry Res 2024; 337:115927. [PMID: 38696971 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Eating disorders are a group of severe and potentially enduring psychiatric disorders associated with increased mortality. Compared to other severe mental illnesses, they have received relatively limited research attention. Epidemiological studies often only report relative measures despite these being difficult to interpret having limited practical use. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of diagnosed anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified recorded in Danish hospital registers and estimate both relative and absolute measures of subsequent mortality - both all-cause and cause-specific in a general nationwide population of 1,667,374 individuals. In a smaller, genetically informed case-cohort sample, the prediction of polygenic scores for AN, body fat percentage, and body mass index on AN prevalence and severity was estimated. Despite males being less likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder, those that do have significantly increased rates of mortality. AN prevalence was highest for individuals with high AN and low body fat percentage/body mass index polygenic scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Tidselbak Larsen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Zeynep Yilmaz
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Cynthia M Bulik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Clara Albiñana
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bjarni Jóhann Vilhjálmsson
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Denmark; Novo Nodisk Foundation Centre for Genomics Mechanisms of Disease, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Preben Bo Mortensen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Liselotte Vogdrup Petersen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Nielsen S, Vilmar JW. Educational attainment in eating disorders: What can we learn from visualising data. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2024; 32:3-12. [PMID: 37501224 DOI: 10.1002/erv.3015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Educational attainment is an understudied outcome in eating disorders (ED). We compared the educational attainment of individuals with and without ED. METHODS This study is a nationwide, register-based, observational epidemiological study using record linkage. The studied cohorts were (1) all persons treated psychiatrically for ED from 1970 to 2014, and (2) a control population matched for sex, age, and place of residence. The International Standard Classification of Education 2011 was used to classify educational attainment. We employed ineqord, a series of graphical and analytical tools that are appropriate for comparing the distributions of ordinal data (Jenkins, 2020). RESULTS Females with ED attained higher educational levels than males with ED. Males with ED had lower average educational levels than controls. On average, female controls attained higher educational levels than patients with ED in the eating disorders not otherwise specified or overeating groups. Females with anorexia nervosa, differed from matched controls: While their median was the same, too many participants were in the lower and higher levels of educational attainment. Females with bulimia nervosa had higher educational levels than matched controls on average. CONCLUSIONS Educational attainment differs between individuals with and without out ED for all ED diagnoses and in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Nielsen
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Janne Walløe Vilmar
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark
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Miskovic-Wheatley J, Bryant E, Ong SH, Vatter S, Le A, Touyz S, Maguire S. Eating disorder outcomes: findings from a rapid review of over a decade of research. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:85. [PMID: 37254202 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00801-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eating disorders (ED), especially Anorexia Nervosa (AN), are internationally reported to have amongst the highest mortality and suicide rates in mental health. With limited evidence for current pharmacological and/or psychological treatments, there is a grave responsibility within health research to better understand outcomes for people with a lived experience of ED, factors and interventions that may reduce the detrimental impact of illness and to optimise recovery. This paper aims to synthesise the literature on outcomes for people with ED, including rates of remission, recovery and relapse, diagnostic crossover, and mortality. METHODS This paper forms part of a Rapid Review series scoping the evidence for the field of ED, conducted to inform the Australian National Eating Disorders Research and Translation Strategy 2021-2031, funded and released by the Australian Government. ScienceDirect, PubMed and Ovid/MEDLINE were searched for studies published between 2009 and 2022 in English. High-level evidence such as meta-analyses, large population studies and Randomised Controlled Trials were prioritised through purposive sampling. Data from selected studies relating to outcomes for people with ED were synthesised and are disseminated in the current review. RESULTS Of the over 1320 studies included in the Rapid Review, the proportion of articles focused on outcomes in ED was relatively small, under 9%. Most evidence was focused on the diagnostic categories of AN, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder, with limited outcome studies in other ED diagnostic groups. Factors such as age at presentation, gender, quality of life, the presence of co-occurring psychiatric and/or medical conditions, engagement in treatment and access to relapse prevention programs were associated with outcomes across diagnoses, including mortality rates. CONCLUSION Results are difficult to interpret due to inconsistent study definitions of remission, recovery and relapse, lack of longer-term follow-up and the potential for diagnostic crossover. Overall, there is evidence of low rates of remission and high risk of mortality, despite evidence-based treatments, especially for AN. It is strongly recommended that research in long-term outcomes, and the factors that influence better outcomes, using more consistent variables and methodologies, is prioritised for people with ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Miskovic-Wheatley
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Emma Bryant
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shu Hwa Ong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sabina Vatter
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anvi Le
- Healthcare Management Advisors, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephen Touyz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sarah Maguire
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
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Crone C, Fochtmann LJ, Attia E, Boland R, Escobar J, Fornari V, Golden N, Guarda A, Jackson-Triche M, Manzo L, Mascolo M, Pierce K, Riddle M, Seritan A, Uniacke B, Zucker N, Yager J, Craig TJ, Hong SH, Medicus J. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Eating Disorders. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:167-171. [PMID: 36722117 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.23180001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Westmoreland P, Duffy A, Rienecke R, Le Grange D, Joiner T, Manwaring J, Watters A, Mehler P. Causes of death in patients with a history of severe anorexia nervosa. J Eat Disord 2022; 10:200. [PMID: 36566253 PMCID: PMC9789632 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00716-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study reports causes of death for a cohort of 35 patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN), who were treated between 2012 and 2020, and descriptive information on their medical and psychological comorbidities is provided. METHODS Three hundred and seventy patient names were submitted to the National Death Index (NDI). The NDI reviewed whether a death certificate matching each patient's identifying information existed, and if it existed, specific causes of death were noted. The original group of 370 patients consisted of 229 individuals who had been treated voluntarily and 141 who had been treated involuntarily. RESULTS Thirty-five patients, from the 370 (9.4%) submitted to the NDI, with an initial diagnosis of AN, were confirmed deceased. Most (83%) were female with an average age of 38.5 years (SD:12.7) and average body mass index (BMI) of 12.8 kg/m2 (SD:2.4). The total number of patients, with AN listed as a cause of death, was 24 (69%). Two patients died as a result of suicide. Twenty-eight (80%) of the patients had a specific medical disease listed as a cause of death, with the most frequent being cardiovascular, metabolic, or gastrointestinal. CONCLUSIONS AN is associated with a substantial risk of death from many medical causes. However, two (5.7%) of our sample died by suicide, a rate considerably lower than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Westmoreland
- ACUTE Center of Eating Disorders, Denver, CO, USA.,University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Renee Rienecke
- Eating Recovery Center, Denver, CO, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel Le Grange
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas Joiner
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Ashlie Watters
- ACUTE Center of Eating Disorders, Denver, CO, USA.,University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Philip Mehler
- Eating Recovery Center, Denver, CO, USA. .,ACUTE Center of Eating Disorders, Denver, CO, USA. .,University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA.
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Hartman-Munick SM, Lin JA, Milliren CE, Braverman PK, Brigham KS, Fisher MM, Golden NH, Jary JM, Lemly DC, Matthews A, Ornstein RM, Roche A, Rome ES, Rosen EL, Sharma Y, Shook JK, Taylor JL, Thew M, Vo M, Voss M, Woods ER, Forman SF, Richmond TK. Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic With Adolescent and Young Adult Eating Disorder Care Volume. JAMA Pediatr 2022; 176:1225-1232. [PMID: 36342721 PMCID: PMC9641596 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.4346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic has affected youth mental health. Increases in site-specific eating disorder (ED) care have been documented; however, multisite studies demonstrating national trends are lacking. OBJECTIVE To compare the number of adolescent/young adult patients seeking inpatient and outpatient ED care before and after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Using an observational case series design, changes in volume in inpatient and outpatient ED-related care across 15 member sites (14 geographically diverse hospital-based adolescent medicine programs and 1 nonhospital-based ED program) of the US National Eating Disorder Quality Improvement Collaborative was examined. Sites reported monthly volumes of patients seeking inpatient and outpatient ED care between January 2018 and December 2021. Patient volumes pre- and postpandemic onset were compared separately for inpatient and outpatient settings. Demographic data such as race and ethnicity were not collected because this study used monthly summary data. EXPOSURES Onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Monthly number of patients seeking inpatient/outpatient ED-related care. RESULTS Aggregate total inpatient ED admissions were 81 in January 2018 and 109 in February 2020. Aggregate total new outpatient assessments were 195 in January 2018 and 254 in February 2020. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the relative number of pooled inpatient ED admissions were increasing over time by 0.7% per month (95% CI, 0.2%-1.3%). After onset of the pandemic, there was a significant increase in admissions over time of 7.2% per month (95% CI, 4.8%-9.7%) through April 2021, then a decrease of 3.6% per month (95% CI, -6.0% to -1.1%) through December 2021. Prepandemic, pooled data showed relative outpatient ED assessment volume was stable over time, with an immediate 39.7% decline (95% CI, -50.4% to -26.7%) in April 2020. Subsequently, new assessments increased by 8.1% (95% CI, 5.3%-11.1%) per month through April 2021, then decreased by 1.5% per month (95% CI, -3.6% to 0.7%) through December 2021. The nonhospital-based ED program did not demonstrate a significant increase in the absolute number of admissions after onset of the pandemic but did see a significant increase of 8.2 (95% CI, 6.2-10.2) additional inquiries for care per month in the first year after onset of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, there was a significant COVID-19 pandemic-related increase in both inpatient and outpatient volume of patients with EDs across sites, particularly in the first year of the pandemic. Given inadequate ED care availability prior to the pandemic, the increased postpandemic demand will likely outstrip available resources. Results highlight the need to address ED workforce and program capacity issues as well as improve ED prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney M. Hartman-Munick
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts,UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Jessica A. Lin
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Paula K. Braverman
- Baystate Children’s Hospital, Springfield, Massachusetts,UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts
| | - Kathryn S. Brigham
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Diana C. Lemly
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Abigail Matthews
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | | | - Ellen S. Rome
- Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - Yamini Sharma
- UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Jaime L. Taylor
- Beaumont Children’s Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan,Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan
| | - Margaret Thew
- Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee,Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Megen Vo
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, California
| | - Michaela Voss
- Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri,University of Missouri–Kansas City, Kansas City
| | - Elizabeth R. Woods
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara F. Forman
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tracy K. Richmond
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Gaudiani JL, Bogetz A, Yager J. Terminal anorexia nervosa: three cases and proposed clinical characteristics. J Eat Disord 2022; 10:23. [PMID: 35168671 PMCID: PMC8845309 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most individuals with eating disorders will either recover, settle into an unrecovered but self-defined acceptable quality of life, or continue to cycle from crisis to relative stability over time. However, a minority of those with severe and enduring eating disorders recognize after years of trying that recovery remains elusive, and further treatment seems both futile and harmful. No level of harm reduction proves achievable or adequately ameliorates their suffering. In this subgroup, many of those with anorexia nervosa will experience the medical consequences of malnutrition as their future cause of death. Whereas anyone who wishes to keep striving for recovery despite exhaustion and depletion should wholeheartedly be supported in doing so, some patients simply cannot continue to fight. They recognize that death from anorexia nervosa, while perhaps not welcome, will be inevitable. Unfortunately, these patients and their carers often receive minimal support from eating disorders health professionals who are conflicted about terminal care, and who are hampered and limited by the paucity of literature on end-of-life care for those with anorexia nervosa. CASE PRESENTATION Three case studies elucidate this condition. One patient was so passionate about this topic that she asked to be a posthumous co-author of this paper. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with literature on managing terminal illness, this article proposes clinical characteristics of patients who may be considered to have a terminal eating disorder: diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, older age (e.g. age over 30), previous participation in high quality care, and clear and consistent determination by a patient who possesses decision-making capacity that additional treatment would be futile, knowing their actions will result in death. By proposing the clinical characteristics of terminal anorexia nervosa, we hope to educate, inspire compassion, and help providers properly assess these patients and provide appropriate care. We hope that this proposal stimulates further expert consensus definitions and clinical guidelines for management of this population. In our view, these patients deserve the same attendant care and rights as all other patients with terminal illness, up to and including medical aid in dying in jurisdictions where such care is legal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alyssa Bogetz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Joel Yager
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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