Introduction: Anorexia nervosa is a pathology with increasing incidence and prevalence, associated with severe complications in various systems and with frequent cardiovascular involvement. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and involves increased costs at the level of health services. Food disorders accompanied by obesity also have increased cardiovascular risk.
Methods: An observational study was conducted on three groups of patients, similar in age and gender. Lot A comprised 23 diagnosed patients with anorexia nervosa, according to DSM criteria, group B comprised 25 patients with normal BMI and group C 25 patients with various degrees of obesity. The patients were clinically, biologically and paraclinically examined (pulmonary radiography, resting EKG, echocardiography, EKG monitoring, MAATA) to determine the status of the cardiovascular system. The obtained results were compared between the three batches and the data from the literature were also reported.
Compared to normal, patients with anorexia nervosa exhibit hydro-electrolyte disturbances and structural and functional cardiovascular changes, in percentage of 19.45-63.3%, depending on the parameter analyzed. Patients with obesity exhibit structural and functional cardiovascular alterations, but with lower severity com-pared to anorexic patients.
Conclusions: Eating disorders and especially nervous anorexia often present complex cardiovascular complications, both structural and functional, with varying degrees of severity, in direct relation to the time of exposure to eating disorder and weight status. Cardiac changes are only partially reversible after returning to a normal weight. Complete routine cardiac control in this pathology is mandatory, with the establishment of the optimal management plan, both nutritionally and cardiologically.