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Electrocardiographic abnormalities in anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Webb John Graydon,
Birmingham Carl Laird,
Macdonald Ian Laidlaw
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198811)7:6<785::aid-eat2260070608>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - hypokalemia , anorexia nervosa , medicine , hypomagnesemia , bradycardia , hypophosphatemia , endocrinology , refeeding syndrome , sinus bradycardia , cardiology , eating disorders , heart rate , psychiatry , malnutrition , blood pressure , materials science , magnesium , metallurgy
Electrocardiograms, biochemical parameters, and drug histories were reviewed in 37 patients with anorexia nervosa. Prolongation of the Q‐T interval was identified in 24%, sinus bradycardia in 41%, and low voltage in 11% of our study population. Hypocalcemia was identified in none of our patients, hypomagnesemia in one, and hypokalemia in nine. Hypokalemia was more frequent (67%) and marked in patients with Q‐T prolongation than in those with normal Q‐T intervals (11%). Bulimic tendencies were more frequent in anorexics with Q‐T prolongation and were associated with hypokalemia. Q‐T prolongation when present was usually mild. One patient had documented ventricular fibrillation associated with hypokalemia and the longest Q‐T interval encountered in our group (G‐Q c = 0.54 seconds). Patients with severe anorexia nervosa should be screened for hypokalemia and Q‐T prolongation, particularly if bulimic tendencies are present. Although Q‐T prolongation associated with weight loss due to dieting, starvation, and gastroplasty is not commonly associated with hypokalemia, such may not be the case with anorexia nervosa.