Objective: We report data from the medical stabilization and refeeding of patients with severe anorexia nervosa admitted over a 15-month period.
Method: Through chart review and computerized data collection, we evaluated demographic and clinical data from 25 consecutive patients admitted to our medical stabilization unit from October 2008 to January 2010.
Results: In this adult-patient population with a median body mass index (BMI) of 13.1 kg/m(2) (interquartile range, 11.0-14.4), 44% developed hypoglycemia, 76% had abnormal liver function, 83% had abnormal bone density, 45% developed refeeding hypophosphatemia, and 92% were hypothermic. Severe liver function abnormality predicted the development of hypoglycemia (p = 0.02, OR 9.78, CI: 1.55-61.65). No clinical features predicted hypophosphatemia, including admission BMI (p = 0.19), serum glucose level (p = 0.21), elevated liver function tests (p = 0.39 for AST), or initial amount of kilocalories consumed (p = 0.06).
Discussion: Patients with the most severe cases of anorexia nervosa have a high prevalence of serious medical complications during initial refeeding.
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