JAMA Netw Open

Cardiovascular risks persist in anorexia nervosa patients

December 20, 2024

Study design: This longitudinal cohort study analyzed data from a population-based health insurance database in Taiwan, covering January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2021. The study included 2,081 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 20,810 matched controls, identified through propensity score matching based on sex, age, urbanization level, socioeconomic status, and year of diagnosis.

Results: Over a five-year period, patients with AN had significantly higher rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (4.8% vs. 0.8%) and any cardiovascular condition (6.0% vs. 2.3%) compared with controls. The adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) for MACE and any cardiovascular condition were 3.78 and 1.93, respectively. Notably, the increased risks for congestive heart failure, conduction disorders, and structural heart disease were prominent in the initial follow-up period but disappeared after 5 years. Conversely, the risk for ischemic heart disease increased only after 5 years (AHR, 3.01).

Impact on clinical practice: Cardiovascular conditions should be monitored in patients with AN, particularly during initial presentation, treatment, and long-term follow-up.

Source:

Tseng MM, et al. (2024, December 2). JAMA Netw Open. Incidence and Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Anorexia Nervosa. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39699895/