Cardiovascular complications and sudden death associated with eating disorders

Sudden death in eating disordered patients has been attributed to cardiac arrhythmias and susceptibility might be identified by using heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of impaired cardiac autonomic regulation. The aim of the study was to examine this parameter in female eating disorder patients and the effect of a short rehabilitation programme. HRV was investigated by linear and nonlinear analysis of ECG recordings from hospitalised female patients with diverse eating disorders. Twenty minute ECG recordings were made at admission, one week and six weeks later. HRV was significantly lower and of reduced complexity across eating disorder groups compared to control. Autonomic dysregulation was shown and differences between the groups persisted after six weeks of specialised hospital treatment. Heart rate variability can be measured simply and has potential as a marker of cardiac risk and an indication for high level care across the spectrum of eating disorders. Work was carried out at the Northside Clinic Eating Disorders Program, Greenwich, Australia.