Medical Findings in Women with Anorexia Nervosa in a Korean Population.
- Author:
Youl Ri KIM
1
;
Myung Ha SON
;
Jong Chun NAH
;
Hyun Ah PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. youlri.kim@paik.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anorexia nervosa;
Eating disorder;
Medical complication;
Bone mineral density;
Korean
- MeSH:
Alanine Transaminase;
Anorexia;
Anorexia Nervosa;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Body Mass Index;
Bone Density;
Bone Diseases, Metabolic;
Feeding and Eating Disorders;
Female;
Humans;
Hyperbilirubinemia;
Hypercholesterolemia;
Osteoporosis;
Triiodothyronine
- From:Psychiatry Investigation
2013;10(2):101-107
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders are a common clinical problem among young women in Asian countries. The aim of this study is to determine the medical effects of anorexia nervosa (AN) in the Korean population. METHODS: We comprehensively investigated medical complications including haemodynamic, haematologic, endocrine, and bone density abnormalities in 67 Korean women with AN, together with 194 healthy Korean women of comparable age with a cross-sectional design. RESULTS: In AN, 36.9% were anaemic, 50.8% were leukopenic, 35.5% were hypoproteinemic, 7.9% were hypokalemic, 9.5% had increased alanine aminotransferase, 6.3% were hyperbilirubinemia, 14.5% were hypercholesterolemia, 14.8% had decreased triiodothyronine. Osteopenia at any one site was identified in 43.3% and an additional 13.4% had osteoporosis. The lowest-ever body mass index was the main determinant of bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: Our data in Korean patients with AN show high frequencies of laboratory abnormalities for medical complications. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing AN as a medical risk in young Korean women.
