Advances in Cancer Prevention
Open Access

Evaluation and treatment of anorexia nervosa during the COVID-19 period

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Assessment and treatment of anorexia nervosa during the COVID-19 period.

Adolescents were divided in groups according to the level of pericardial effusion ((group 1: 

3 millimeters ; group 2: 3 millimeters - 8 millimeters and group 3: > 8 millimeters). Characteristics were presented by their mean  standard deviation.

Data were tested for normality by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

As normality could be assumed for all characteristics; groups were compared by independent student-t-test (when comparing two groups :group 1 versus group 2+ 3 combined) and one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with least significant differences (LSD) post hoc comparison tests (when comparing 3 groups).

We also analysed the influence of different characteristics on the actual measurement of pericardial effusion. The independent contribution of potential risk factors on the logarithm of pericardial effusion was then assessed by multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

29 patients ( 22.2% ) were diagnosed with a pericardial effusion ( 0.35 cm-2.5 cm).

After 3 months refeeding , the effusions disappeared in 18/29 patients while in 7/29 patients a pericardial effusion above 0.3 cm persisted.

4/29 patients discontinued their therapy and were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion

Pericardial effusions occur relatively frequently in anorexic youngsters.

Risk factors: BMI  13,5 kg/m², weight loss  25% and IGF-1 100 ng/ml..

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