Is eating disorders a risk agent for all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions with significant physical health consequences.
• Previous research suggests a link between eating disorders and increased mortality, but comprehensive meta-analyses are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the relationship between all types of eating disorders and all-cause mortality.
• To quantify the mortality risk associated with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Research Gate until December 2023.
• Meta-analysis of 60 included studies using the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) and a random effects model.
• Subgroup analysis to examine mortality risk for specific eating disorder diagnoses.

Main Results:

• Eating disorders are significantly associated with increased mortality risk (SMR = 4.42, 95% CI 3.55-5.50).
• Anorexia nervosa showed the highest mortality risk (SMR = 5.31, 95% CI 4.15-6.79).
• Bulimia nervosa (SMR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.85-3.91) and eating disorders not otherwise specified (SMR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.45-4.33) also demonstrated significant mortality risks.

Conclusions:

• Eating disorders represent a serious threat to life, underscoring the critical need for enhanced prevention, screening, and treatment strategies.
• The findings highlight the urgent necessity for increased clinical attention and public health focus on mitigating mortality in individuals with eating disorders.