P972 - EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS IN THE EATING DISORDER UNIT IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

P972

EVALUATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS IN THE EATING DISORDER UNIT IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

P. Suárez Pérez^1,*, I. Navas Domenech², F. García Torres¹, M. J. Vallejo Herrera¹, M. Tomé García¹, M. Pascual López², A. González Arévalo ², P. Ruiz Dieguez², G. Olveira Fuster¹

¹Endocrinology and Nutrition, ²Psychiatry, HRUM, Málaga, Spain

Rationale: Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by abnormal eating behaviors and a pathological concern with weight. This study evaluates the clinical characteristics and body mass index (BMI) of patients admitted to the Eating Disorder Unit (EDU) of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: Retrospective study involving 120 patients admitted in the EDU between 2022 and 2024. Clinical data, BMI at admission and discharge, hospital stay duration and readmissions were collected. Diagnoses included anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia, bulimia nervosa and others.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 23.8 ±10.4 years, 95% were females.

Mean stay was 53.1 ±36 days, with no BMI-based differences.

Voluntary admission was the most common (52.2%), followed by involuntary admission in minors (40%). The primary diagnosis was anorexia nervosa (70.8%). Overall 23.3% were readmitted.

At admission 44.2% of patients had a BMI <15; at discharge only 7.5% remained in this range. 45.8% reached a normal BMI(>18.5).

Mean BMI increased from 15.5 at admission to 18.3 at discharge.
Among readmitted patients, the mean BMI at discharge was 18.1 compared to 18.3 in those not readmitted (p=0.650).
Of those admitted with a BMI <15, 30% achieved a normal BMI by discharge.
Patients who requested voluntary discharge had a mean BMI of 16 at discharge, compared to 18.8 in the rest (p<0.001).
Among patients discharged with a BMI <15, 3 were readmitted (2.5% of the total sample) (p=0.650).

Conclusion: The majority of patients were young women with anorexia nervosa.
Results show notable clinical and nutritional improvement during hospitalization, evidenced by increased BMI. Discharge BMI was significantly associated with factors like voluntary discharge.
Despite overall improvement, many required readmission, underscoring the chronic, complex nature of EDs and the need for follow-up. This highlights the value of a multidisciplinary, individualized approach.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared