Affiliation:
1. Clinical Nutrition Department The Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne Australia
2. Eating Disorders Unit The Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne Australia
3. Consultation‐Liaison Psychiatry—Inner West Area Mental Health Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne Australia
4. Department of General Medicine and Infectious Diseases The Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne Australia
5. Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveNutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration are often critical for the treatment of eating disorders (ED), yet are restricted by the potential risk of refeeding syndrome (RFS). The primary objective was to determine the incidence of RFS. Secondary objectives were to explore predictive factors of RFS and describe its impact on treatment goals for patients with ED.MethodThis retrospective observational study reviewed the nutrition management for patients admitted to a quaternary hospital for ED treatment from 2018 to 2020. Data were collected during the first 4 weeks of admission and included anthropometry, energy prescription, incidence and severity of RFS, and electrolyte and micronutrient prescription. Outcomes included incidence of RFS, energy prescription and advancement, and weight change.ResultsOf 423 ED admissions, 217 patients (median [interquartile range, IQR] age 25 [21–30.5] years; 210 [97%] female) met inclusion criteria. Median (IQR) body mass index (BMI) on admission was 15.5 (14.1–17.3) kg/m2. The mean (standard deviation) length of admission was 35 (7.3) days. Median (IQR) initial energy prescription was 1500 (930–1500) kcal/day. Seventy‐three (33%) patients developed RFS; 34 (16%) mild, 27 (12%) moderate, and 12 (5%) severe. There was no association between RFS severity and admission BMI, energy prescription, or prescription of prophylactic electrolytes or micronutrients. Lower admission weight was associated with RFS (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval [0.93–1.00], p = .035). Less than half of the participants met the weight gain target (>1 kg per week) in the first 3 weeks of admission.DiscussionThe incidence of severe RFS was low in this cohort and was associated with lower admission weight.Public SignificanceThis study is one of the largest studies to utilize consensus‐defined criteria to diagnose RFS among adult patients admitted for treatment of an ED. This population is still considered to be at risk of RFS and will require close monitoring. The results add to the growing body of research that restriction of energy prescription to prevent RFS may not require the level of conservatism traditionally practiced.