Is a short re-feeding program effective in reducing adverse cardiac events in eating disorder patients?

Eating Disorder (ED) patients who were admitted to an eating disorders program for a 6-week treatment and were assessed for changes in heart rate variability (HRV). Linear heart rate variability measures (HRV) were determined using Kubios software from 20 minute, Lead 3 ECG recordings following a 5-minute rest period. Eighteen patients and 31 controls were included in the analysis. Results were deemed significant if p<0.05. No significant differences in HRV parameters were noted for the control group between Pre- and Post-treatment. For the ED group, mean RR interval length decreased significantly compared to the control group (p=0.006). HF peak frequency increased significantly in the ED group (p=0.001). High frequency (HF) peak indicated that the respiratory frequency increased from Pre to Post measurement. RMSSD tended to decrease (p=0.047) in the ED group. Hence at admission to hospital the ED group was more parasympathetic during rest compared to controls, but they became more sympathetic after the intervention and thus approached the HRV measures of the controls suggesting improvement in ANS modulation of the heart.