Bone mineral density and estimated hip strength in men with anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Few bone mineral density (BMD) data are available in men with anorexia nervosa (AN), and none in those with atypical AN (ATYP) (AN psychological symptoms without low weight) or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) (restrictive eating without AN psychological symptoms). We investigated the prevalence and determinants of low BMD and estimated hip strength in men with these disorders. DESIGN: Cross-sectional: two centres. PATIENTS: A total of 103 men, 18-63 years: AN (n = 26), ARFID (n = 11), ATYP (n = 18), healthy controls (HC) (n = 48). MEASUREMENTS: Body composition, BMD and estimated hip strength (section modulus and buckling ratio) by DXA (Hologic). Serum 25OH vitamin D was quantified, as was daily calcium intake in a subset of subjects. RESULTS: Mean BMI was lowest in AN and ARFID, higher in ATYP and highest in HC (AN 14.7 ± 1.8, ARFID 15.3 ± 1.5, ATYP 20.6 ± 2.0, HC 23.7 ± 3.3 kg/m2 ) (P < 0.0005). Mean BMD Z-scores at spine and hip were lower in AN and ARFID, but not ATYP, than HC (postero-anterior (PA) spine AN -2.05 ± 1.58, ARFID -1.33 ± 1.21, ATYP -0.59 ± 1.77, HC -0.12 ± 1.17) (P < 0.05). 65% AN, 18% ARFID, 33% ATYP and 6% HC had BMD Z-scores <-2 at ≥1 site (AN and ATYP vs HC, P < 0.01). Mean section modulus Z-scores were lower in AN than HC (P < 0.01). Lower BMI, muscle mass and vitamin D levels (R = 0.33-0.64), as well as longer disease duration (R = -0.51 to -0.58), were associated with lower BMD (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Men with AN, ARFID and ATYP are at risk for low BMD. Men with these eating disorders who are low weight, or who have low muscle mass, long illness duration and/or vitamin D deficiency, may be at particularly high risk.

Critical gaps in the medical knowledge base of eating disorders.

Eating disorders are unique in that they inherently have much medical comorbidity both as a part of restricting-type eating disorders and those characterized by purging behaviors. Over the last three decades, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding and treatment of the medical complications of eating disorders. Yet, unfortunately, there is much research that is sorely needed to bridge the gap between current medical knowledge and more effective and evidence-based medical treatment knowledge. These gaps exist in many different clinical areas including cardiology, electrolytes, gastrointestinal and bone disease. In this paper, we discuss some of the knowledge gap areas, which if bridged would help develop more effective medical intervention for this population of patients.

Assessment and clinical management of bone disease in adults with eating disorders: a review.

AIM: To review current medical literature regarding the causes and clinical management options for low bone mineral density (BMD) in adult patients with eating disorders. BACKGROUND: Low bone mineral density is a common complication of eating disorders with potentially lifelong debilitating consequences. Definitive, rigorous guidelines for screening, prevention and management are lacking. This article intends to provide a review of the literature to date and current options for prevention and treatment. METHODS: Current, peer-reviewed literature was reviewed, interpreted and summarized. CONCLUSION: Any patient with lower than average BMD should weight restore and in premenopausal females, spontaneous menses should resume. Adequate vitamin D and calcium supplementation is important. Weight-bearing exercise should be avoided unless cautiously monitored by a treatment team in the setting of weight restoration. If a patient has a Z-score less than expected for age with a high fracture risk or likelihood of ongoing BMD loss, physiologic transdermal estrogen plus oral progesterone, bisphosphonates (alendronate or risedronate) or teriparatide could be considered. Other agents, such as denosumab and testosterone in men, have not been tested in eating-disordered populations and should only be trialed on an empiric basis if there is a high clinical concern for fractures or worsening bone mineral density. A rigorous peer-based approach to establish guidelines for evaluation and management of low bone mineral density is needed in this neglected subspecialty of eating disorders.

A Qualitative Study of Hospitalists' Perceptions of Patient Satisfaction Metrics on Pain Management.

Hospital initiatives to promote pain management may unintentionally contribute to excessive opioid prescribing. To better understand hospitalists' perceptions of satisfaction metrics on pain management, the authors conducted 25 interviews with hospitalists. Transcribed interviews were systematically analyzed to identify emergent themes. Hospitalists felt institutional pressure to earn high satisfaction scores for pain, which they perceived influenced practices toward opioid prescribing. They felt tying compensation to satisfaction scores commoditized pain. Hospitalists believed satisfaction would improve with increased time spent at the bedside. Focusing on methods to improve patient-physician communication, while maintaining efficiency in clinical practice, may promote both patient-centered pain management and satisfaction.

The hospitalist perspective on opioid prescribing: A qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a frequent symptom among patients in the hospital. Pain management is a key quality indicator for hospitals, and hospitalists are encouraged to frequently assess and treat pain. Optimal opioid prescribing, described as safe, patient-centered, and informed opioid prescribing, may be at odds with the priorities of current hospital care, which focuses on patient-reported pain control rather than the potential long-term consequences of opioid use. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to understand physicians' attitudes, beliefs, and practices toward opioid prescribing during hospitalization and discharge. DESIGN: In-depth, semistructured interviews. SETTING: Two university hospitals, a safety-net hospital, a Veterans Affairs hospital, and a private hospital located in Denver, Colorado or Charleston, South Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalists (N = 25). MEASUREMENTS: We systematically analyzed transcribed interviews and identified emerging themes using a team-based mixed inductive and deductive approach. RESULTS: Although hospitalists felt confident in their ability to control acute pain using opioid medications, they perceived limited success and satisfaction when managing acute exacerbations of chronic pain with opioids. Hospitalists recounted negative sentinel events that altered opioid prescribing practices in both the hospital setting and at the time of hospital discharge. Hospitalists described prescribing opioids as a pragmatic tool to facilitate hospital discharges or prevent readmissions. At times, this left them feeling conflicted about how this practice could impact the patient over the long term. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to provide adequate pain relief to hospitalized patients, which allow hospitalists to safely and optimally prescribe opioids while maintaining current standards of efficiency, are urgently needed. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:536-542. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.