Electrolyte Abnormalities Tied to Adverse Outcomes in Eating Disorders

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 24, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 24, 2024 -- For people with an eating disorder, electrolyte abnormalities are associated with death and poor physical health outcomes, according to a study published in the October issue of The Lancet Psychiatry.

Marco Solmi, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study in Ontario involving people aged 13 years or older with an eating disorder and an outpatient electrolyte measure within one year to examine the association with mortality and physical health outcomes.

The analyses included 6,163 patients with an eating disorder and an electrolyte measure within one year since diagnosis. The most common electrolyte abnormalities were hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and hypernatremia (50.0, 37.8, and 21.1 percent, respectively). The researchers found that death occurred in 15.7 and 5.6 percent of those with and without an electrolyte abnormality, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23). Electrolyte abnormality was also associated with hospitalization, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, bone fracture, and bowel obstruction (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35, 1.91, 1.44, 1.40, and 1.62, respectively), but not with infection or a cardiovascular event.

"These findings support the importance of regularly monitoring electrolytes in people with eating disorders and promptly correcting any abnormalities found to reduce premature mortality and risk of medical complications," the authors write. "The severity criteria of eating disorders could be refined to include explicit mention of electrolyte abnormalities."

Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-09-25 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords