Eating disorders: is there a correlation between severity of physical compromise and admission outcomes?

Abstract

Background: The Medical Emergencies in Eating Disorders (MEED) report was first released by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2022 (updated 2023) to aid clinicians in recognising medical compromise due to an eating disorder and to provide guidance for management.

Aims: This study looked at admissions over 5 years to explore whether there is a correlation between MEED medical compromise parameters and three outcomes: length of stay, detainment under the Mental Health Act 1983, and discharge destination.

Methods: A retrospective study of 26 patients admitted to a large teaching hospital for an eating disorder between 2018 and 2023. The risk assessment from the MEED report was used to create a score for physical compromise and analysed to determine whether there was a correlation between the score and discharge destination, detainment under the Mental Health Act and length of stay.

Findings: Demographic data were comparable with larger studies, with increasing numbers and 19.2% having autism spectrum disorder. There was no correlation between the scoring tool and detainment under the Act, discharge destination or length of stay.

Conclusion: Increasing numbers of patients are presenting with eating disorders. Physical compromise was not a predictor for admission outcomes, but this could be further explored in larger studies.