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Mortality and its predictors in severe bulimia nervosa patients
Caroline Huas1, Nathalie Godart, Agnès Caille
1Inserm, U669, Paris, France. carohuas@gmail.com
Background:
The risk of mortality remains unclear for bulimia nervosa (BN) patients, especially the most severe. The aims of this study were to improve knowledge on BN and mortality.
Methods:
With initial evaluation at admission, 258 BN (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) consecutive inpatients were included (1988-2004). Vital status was established from the French national register. Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) calculation and bivariate Cox analysis were performed for the hypothesised predictors of mortality.
Results:
Mean follow-up duration was 10.5 years. Ten deaths were recorded, and the crude mortality ratio was 3.9%; SMR = 5.52 [CI95 (2.64-10.15)]. The majority of deaths were from suicide [6/10, SMR = 30.9 (5.7-68.7)]. The mean age at time of death was 29.6 years. Predictive factors were previous suicide attempt and low minimum BMI.
Conclusions:
Severe BN patients are at higher risk of death (mainly suicide) especially if previous suicide attempt or previous low BMI. More studies are needed to confirm these results.
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