A new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that 32% of individuals with an eating disorder had abnormal electrolyte levels, which were associated with a higher risk of death from any cause. The study, led by researchers at ICES and The Ottawa Hospital, found that electrolyte abnormalities were also linked to the development of other serious health conditions, including chronic kidney disease, bone fracture, bowel obstruction, and acute kidney injury. This is one of the first large, population-based studies to identify an important risk factor for mortality and poor health outcomes in individuals suffering from eating disorders.
Electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, can affect how the body functions. It's common to find that people with eating disorders have electrolyte abnormalities due to symptoms such as purging, the use of laxatives, and dehydration. These findings might inform explicit mention of electrolyte abnormalities in the criteria we use to assess the severity of eating disorders.
" Dr. Marco Solmi, lead author, Medical Director of the Regional Eating Disorder Program at The Ottawa Hospital, and Director of research at the University of Ottawa's Psychiatry Department The researchers included over 6,000 individuals 13 years of age and older who were diagnosed with an eating disorder and had an electrolyte level test within one year of their diagnosis , as recorded on a hospitalization or emergency department record in the province of Ontario, Canada. .