Has COVID-19 Complicated Eating Disorder Treatment? An Examination of Comorbidities and Treatment Response Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Recent evidence suggests psychosocial stressors stemming from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure and public health recommendations and policies have exacerbated eating disorder symptoms. Consequentially, eating disorder acuity has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, it is still unclear how the COVID-19 pandemic may be impacting individuals receiving treatment for eating disorders at higher levels of care. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on eating disorder symptoms and associated outcomes in a sample of individuals receiving eating disorder treatment compared to individuals receiving treatment in 2019.Methods: Blinded outcomes data from 272 adults who completed treatment at an eating disorder treatment center between April and October of 2019 (pre-COVID-19 group) and 2020 (COVID-19 group) were examined. Repeated measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni correction were used to examine differences in outcome variables and treatment response.Results: Fewer participants reported trauma in 2020, but symptoms were more severe when present. A significant interaction effect for treatment (eg, admission, discharge) and year (eg, pre-COVID-19, COVID-19) was found for eating disorder and trauma symptoms. Moreover, trauma symptom scores were higher in 2020 than in 2019. The interaction among year, trauma, and treatment was significant (F3,268 = 2.11, P = .027, η2 = 0.034), indicating that individuals with severe trauma in 2020 reported less eating disorder symptom score reduction.Conclusions: Results extend understanding of effects during the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment-seeking individuals with eating disorders. Clinical implications suggest that greater attention to trauma when screening eating disorder patients and selecting treatment approaches are needed, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extreme anorexia nervosa: medical findings, outcomes, and inferences from a retrospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Extreme anorexia nervosa (AN) is defined as a BMI < 15 kg/m2 in those meeting DSM-V diagnostic criteria for AN. This study seeks to define the frequency of medical complications in this group of patients in order to help inform the care of individuals < 65% ideal body weight who seek treatment for their extreme eating disorders. METHODS: Through retrospective chart review and computerized data collection, we obtained the baseline characteristics and medical findings of 281 adult patients, with AN restricting and binge-purge subtypes, admitted to the ACUTE unit for medical stabilization between May 2013 and August 2018. RESULTS: In this population, with a mean admitting BMI of 12.1 kg/m2 (range = 7.5-15.7), 56% admitted with bradycardia, 45% demonstrated increased liver function tests (LFTs) on admission, 64% admitted with leukopenia, 47% with anemia, and 20% presented with thrombocytopenia. During admission, 38% developed hypoglycemia, 35% developed refeeding hypophosphatemia, nearly 33% of patients developed edema, and low bone mineral density was diagnosed in almost 90% of the patients. Highly elevated LFTs (>3x upper limits of normal) predicted hypoglycemia, and low BMI predicted refeeding hypophosphatemia (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although conclusions drawn from the findings presented in this descriptive study must be tempered by relevant clinical judgement, these findings showcase that patients with extreme AN are at significantly increased risk for many serious medical complications secondary to their state of malnutrition and also with initial refeeding.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome in severe anorexia nervosa: A case series.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome presents with nonspecific GI complaints, hindering weight restoration in those with anorexia nervosa. Diagnosis is made with radiologic testing, and treatment requires only weight restoration, negating the need for surgical intervention.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: a radiographic review.

PURPOSE: To provide a review of the etiology, clinical presentation, and imaging findings of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. METHODS: A literature review of 24 relevant articles regarding SMA syndrome was performed. RESULTS: Clinicians and radiologists with a high index of suspicion based on symptomatology may pursue radiologic investigation in the form of upper gastrointestinal (GI) series and contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) are less commonly utilized modalities in the work-up of SMA syndrome, but provide imaging alternatives without the use of ionizing radiation. Imaging can assist in diagnosis by demonstrating characteristic findings of reduced aortomesenteric angle, reduced aortomesenteric distance, gastroduodenal distention, bowel caliber narrowing at the takeoff of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta, as well as delayed gastric emptying or positional obstruction observed with real time with fluoroscopy. CONCLUSION: SMA syndrome is a rare disease that can go unrecognized and undiagnosed, exacerbating weight loss in an already significantly malnourished patient population. The diagnosis of SMA syndrome must be based on clinical symptomatology correlated with radiographic information. Once diagnosed, SMA syndrome can be safely treated by conservative measures although occasionally requires invasive intervention in the form of enteral tube placement, percutaneous jejunostomy tube placement, total parenteral nutrition, ligament of Treitz lysis, or duodenojejunostomy.

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.

Gastrointestinal comorbidities which complicate the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Patients with anorexia nervosa often voice a multitude of symptoms in regards to their gastrointestinal tract. These complaints can complicate the treatment of their eating disorder as they distract attention from the important goal of weight restoration. Moreover, the restricting of certain food groups also makes the task of weight restoration substantially more difficult, or may result in binging. Therefore a working knowledge of common gastrointestinal comorbidities, such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastroparesis, is useful when treating a patient who has anorexia nervosa.

Effective medical treatment strategies to help cessation of purging behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: Herein we review the major medical issues involved in the "detoxing" of patients who engage in purging behaviors and the pathophysiology of why they occur. METHODS: Given a limited evidence base of randomized controlled trials, we conducted a thorough qualitative review to identify salient literature with regard to the medical issues involved in "detoxing" patients from their purging behaviors. RESULTS: Pseudo Bartter's Syndrome is the root cause of much of the medical difficulties which can arise when purging behaviors are abruptly discontinued. However, this is imminently treatable and even preventable with a judicious medical treatment plan which targets the increased serum aldosterone levels which would otherwise promote salt and water retention and a propensity towards severe edema formation. Effective recommendations are provided which can make this process much less vexing for patients attempting to cease their purging behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: "Detoxing" from purging behaviors can be fraught with medical complications which frustrate these patients and can lead to unsuccessful outcomes. Medical providers should become familiar with the pathophysiology which is the basis for Pseudo Bartter's Syndrome and the effective medical treatments which can lead to a successful outcome.

Severe gastric dilatation due to superior mesenteric artery syndrome in anorexia nervosa.

Forty-seven year old female, with a history of anorexia nervosa, was admitted to a medical stabilization unit (ACUTE) complaining of abdominal pain exacerbated by oral intake, associated with nausea, and relieved by emesis. Admission body mass index was 10.6. Labs were notable for hepatitis and hypoglycemia. On her progressive oral refeeding plan, she suddenly developed severe abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed gastric dilatation and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. SMA syndrome is a rare complication of severe malnutrition resulting from compression of the duodenum between the aorta and the SMA. It is diagnosed by an upper gastrointestinal series or an abdominal CT. Gastric dilatation, in turn, is a rare complication of SMA syndrome to be included in the differential diagnoses of abdominal pain in severely malnourished patients as it is potentially life-threatening. The patient was switched to an oral liquid diet, began weight restoring, and had resolution of symptoms.

Chronic starvation secondary to anorexia nervosa is associated with an adaptive suppression of resting energy expenditure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic starvation is accompanied by a reduction in resting energy expenditure (REE). It is not clear whether this is due mainly to a reduction in body mass or also involves a significant reduction in the cellular metabolic rate of the fat-free mass (FFM). OBJECTIVES: The main goal was to compare measured REE (REEm) with REE predicted by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry modeling of organ-tissue mass (REEp) in malnourished patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) and in healthy lean control subjects. REE adjusted for FFM and fat mass was also compared between the groups. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of 30 patients with AN and 25 lean control subjects. REE was measured by indirect calorimetry. Body composition was modeled using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and REE was predicted for each group based on organ-tissue mass. RESULTS: REEm was significantly lower than REEp in subjects with AN (854 ± 41 vs 1080 ± 25 kcal/d, P < .001), but not in control subjects. In addition, REE adjusted for both FFM and fat mass was significantly lower in the subjects with AN (1031 ± 37 vs 1178 ± 32 kcal/d, P < .01). Finally, compared with the lean control subjects, both organ and skeletal muscle mass were approximately 20% smaller in subjects with AN. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic starvation is accompanied by a significant reduction in the metabolic rate of the FFM. The organs and/or tissues accounting for this are unknown. In addition, this study suggests that protein is mobilized proportionately from organs and skeletal muscle during starvation. This too may be an adaptive response to chronic starvation.

Prospective comparison of curbside versus formal consultations.

BACKGROUND: Curbside consultations are commonly requested during the care of hospitalized patients, but physicians perceive that the recommendations provided may be based on inaccurate or incomplete information. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy and completeness of the information received from providers requesting a curbside consultation of hospitalists with that obtained in a formal consultation on the same patients, and to examine whether the recommendations offered in the 2 consultations differed. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: University-affiliated, urban safety net hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of curbside consultations with inaccurate or incomplete information; frequency with which recommendations in the formal consultation differed from those in the curbside consultation. RESULTS: Curbside consultations were requested for 50 patients, 47 of which were also evaluated in a formal consultation performed on the same day by a hospitalist other than the one performing the curbside consultation. Based on information collected in the formal consultation, information was either inaccurate or incomplete in 24/47 (51%) of the curbside consultations. Management advice after formal consultation differed from that given in the curbside consultation for 28/47 patients (60%). When inaccurate or incomplete information was received, the advice provided in the formal versus the curbside consultation differed in 22/24 patients (92%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Information presented during inpatient curbside consultations of hospitalists is often inaccurate or incomplete, and this often results in inaccurate management advice.

Evolving practice of hospital medicine and its impact on hospital throughput and efficiencies.

Hospitalists are uniquely positioned to implement strategies to improve patient flow and efficiency. Hospital leaders have stated they expect hospitalists to comanage surgical patients, participate in observation units, and screen medical admissions, in addition to providing inpatient care for medical patients. We review how the hospitalists' role in acute inpatient care, surgical comanagement, short stay units, chest pain units, and active bed management has improved throughput and patient flow.

What the emergency department needs to know when caring for your patients with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: In this article, we will examine the most common emergency department presentations of eating disorder patients, review the pathophysiologic changes that lead to such presentations, and discuss the appropriate management of each patient. METHOD: Literature review of current practices. RESULTS: This article serves as a guide for ED physicians caring for patients with eating disorders. It can also serve to improve communication between mental health specialists and emergency room physicians when transferring care of a patient to the ED. DISCUSSION: Patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa present to ED with a multitude of vague complaints. It is crucial for ED physicians to recognize that such complaints stem from an underlying eating disorder to understand the pathophysiology behind such complaints. This in turn will lead to appropriate management of patient symptoms, which can often be complex for the provider and stressful for the patient.

Ophthalmic changes in severe anorexia nervosa: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the diagnosis and management of lagophthalmos, or failure of eyelid closure, in five patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) who complained of dry, irritated eyes and photophobia. METHOD: Five patients with these findings are described retrospectively. RESULTS: Examination revealed lagopthalmos in the setting of ptosis and enophthalmos, with multiple other starvation-mediated medical complications. DISCUSSION: These eye findings, as complications of AN, have not been described in the literature. With careful protective measures, initiation of nutritional rehabilitation, and intensively monitored early refeeding, these patients' ocular abnormalities and associated symptoms resolved completely. Recognition of this pathology and appropriate management can prevent long-term morbidity in the form of permanent loss of visual acuity due to corneal abrasions and improve the outcomes for these patients with severe AN.

ACUTE center for eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: While patients with anorexia nervosa have a high mortality rate, more are living into adulthood. Patients with severe malnutrition secondary to anorexia nervosa often require hospitalization for medical stabilization prior to treatment in eating disorders programs. METHODS: We developed the ACUTE Center at Denver Health Medical Center to medically stabilize adults with the medical complications of severe malnutrition due to an eating disorder. The first 2 years of patient characteristics and outcomes are reported. RESULTS: From October 2008 through December 2010, the ACUTE unit had 76 admissions of which 62 were for medical stabilization, comprising 54 patients. Eighty-nine percent of patients were female. The mean age was 27 years old (range 17-65). The mean body mass index on admission was 12.9 kg/m(2) (standard deviation [SD] 2.0). At admission, patients were hyponatremic, anemic, and leukopenic, with low bone density, but had normal albumin levels. The mean body mass index on discharge was 13.1 ± 1.9 kg/m(2). Median length of stay was 16 days (interquartile range [IQR] 9-29 days). Eighteen percent were discharged to home and eighty-two percent were discharged to inpatient psychiatric eating disorder units. Inpatient mortality was zero. DISCUSSION: Patients with this degree of severe malnutrition due to eating disorders are medically complex and relatively uncommon. Regionalized subspecialty centers of excellence, in which a multidisciplinary team is led by practitioners of hospital medicine who have developed expertise in a rare condition, may improve clinical outcomes, optimize healthcare resources, and provide unique professional and academic opportunities for the clinicians involved.

Severe anorexia nervosa: outcomes from a medical stabilization unit.

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). DISCUSSION: Patients with the most severe cases of anorexia nervosa have a high prevalence of serious medical complications during initial refeeding.

PseudoBartter syndrome in eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: PseudoBartter's syndrome, a complex pattern of seemingly unrelated metabolic abnormalities, is frequently seen in patients with eating disorders, particularly those who indulge in purging behaviors. We present two cases that, despite divergent background histories and clinical presentations, possess the unifying pathophysiology that ultimately leads to this syndrome. METHOD: Case report and review of literature pertaining to Bartter's and PseudoBartter's syndromes. RESULTS: Purging behaviors commonly result in a state of profound dehydration and chloride depletion that leads to the metabolic abnormalities characteristic of inheritable sodium and chloride renal tubular transport disorders. In the eating disorder patient, these abnormalities lead to a propensity towards marked edema formation. DISCUSSION: The metabolic and clinical manifestations of PseudoBartter's syndrome are seen more commonly than previously thought. It is important to appreciate that a complex self-perpetuating pathophysiology leads to the hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis characteristic of PseudoBartter syndrome. The metabolic abnormalities characteristic of this phenomenon should therefore be viewed in this context and the resulting predilection towards marked edema formation should be borne in mind.