Key result
Eating disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults were associated with a significantly shorter QTc interval compared to matched controls (399.6 vs 415.0 msec, P<.001).
Why the study?
Electrocardiographic findings, including QTc, required investigation in patients aged 8 to 23 with eating disorders at presentation compared with matched controls.
Does the presence of an eating disorder alter the electrocardiographic QTc interval in children, adolescents, and young adults compared to matched controls?
Case-Control (n=400)
Blinded outcome assessment
Does the presence of an eating disorder alter the electrocardiographic QTc interval in children, adolescents, and young adults compared to matched controls?
Absolute Event Rate: 399.6% vs 415%
p-value: p=<.001
Children and young adults with eating disorders present with significantly shorter QTc intervals compared to matched controls, with the shortest intervals observed in the anorexia nervosa-restricting subtype.
Similar QTc in ED patients and controls cautions against routine Bazett screening at presentation; leaves open prospective validation for risk stratification.
The study goal was to investigate electrocardiographic findings, including corrected QT interval (QTc), in patients aged 8 to 23 with eating disorders (EDs) at presentation, compared with an age-and sex-matched control population. We retrospectively reviewed 200 ED patients, and 200 controls. Blinded electrocardiograms (ECGs) were interpreted by an expert reader, and QT intervals corrected using the Bazett formula. Eating disorder patients were 89.5% female, with mean age 16.4 years and median percent median body mass index (BMI)-for-age (%mBMI)a of 91.1%. In ED patients, QTc was significantly shorter than controls (399.6 vs 415.0msec, P < .001). After adjusting for height, %mBMI, sex, magnesium level, and bradycardia, mean QTc duration in patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting subtype (AN-R) was significantly shorter than other ED patients ( P = .010). Higher %mBMI was associated with shorter QTc duration ( P = .041) after adjusting for height, magnesium, bradycardia, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis. Within the ED group, no significant association was identified between QTc and medications, electrolytes, or inpatient status.
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Dinardo et al. (2022) conducted a case-control in Eating disorders (n=400). Eating disorders vs. Age- and sex-matched controls was evaluated on Corrected QT interval (QTc) (p=<.001). Eating disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults were associated with a significantly shorter QTc interval compared to matched controls (399.6 vs 415.0 msec, P<.001).
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