Characteristics of anorexia nervosa-related deaths in Norway (1992-2000): Data from the National Patient Register and the Causes of Death Register

Abstract

Potential merits and shortcomings of assessing mortality rates using register-based data without linkage to a previously identified clinical sample are discussed.

Death and risk in adolescent anorexia nervosa

“…4 A careful review of the literature provides two lessons less prone to grab media headlines than premature deaths. First, in adolescence at least, chronicity rather than death is by far the more likely adverse outcome of failing to effectively treat the condition.…”

Eating disorders in men aged midlife and beyond

“…Using an alternative approach, some studies have examined death certificates or medical records from population registers to identify deaths associated with AN [37][38][39]. Hewitt et al [37] reviewed 10 million U.S. death records from 1986 to 1990 using the National Center for Health Statistics.…”

“…It has been argued that unreliability in death certificate diagnoses cannot be ruled out due to misclassification from inappropriate or inaccurate registration procedures associated with this methodological approach, i.e., register-data with no linkage to a clinical sample [39]. Indeed, a careful audit of British death certificates found that only 128 of 230 deaths in which AN was listed as the cause of death (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999) were likely associated with a true psychiatric diagnosis of anorexia nervosa [38].…”

“…A Norwegian study examined two national registers, the National Patient Register and Causes of Death register for death certificates listing AN as an underlying or associated cause of death between 1992 and 2000. Rates of AN-related deaths in the Norwegian National Patient Register were 3.94 per 100,000 for men and 9.01 per 100,000 for women [39]. Mean age at death for males was 70.7 years (SD: 22.1).…”

Construindo cuidado: a relação com os profissionais da saúde nas práticas discursivas de pessoas diagnosticadas com transtornos alimentares

“…Esses transtornos são consideradas psicopatologias com alta taxa de mortalidade, decorrente dos sintomas físicos ou de suicídio (NIELSEN et al, 1998;REAS et al, 2005) e importantes prejuízos físicos, como atraso no crescimento, osteoporose além de outras graves complicações psíquicas (GOLDEN et al, 2003). As complicações físicas decorrentes da AN compreendem: fraqueza, palpitação, tontura, falta de ar, dor no peito, apatia, falta de concentração, fadiga, sensibilidade ao frio, dores abdominais, constipação intestinal, gases, infecções urinárias, queda de cabelo, cãimbras, entre outros.…”