EKG for Anorexia?

[Anonymous]

Is this standard? Pediatrician did not recommend or mention it, just ran labs. Should I find a new doctor?

[Anonymous]

What specifically are you wanting to look for on the EKG that cannot be determined without it?

[Anonymous]

PS: For example, bradycardia at a certain level is part of the criteria for hospitalization, but that does not require an EKG for diagnosis.

What are you looking for the EKG to show that would change management?

[Anonymous]

Did you ask the Dr about it? Why not follow up with them before going on a quest for a new Dr?

[Anonymous]

No it’s not standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this standard? Pediatrician did not recommend or mention it, just ran labs. Should I find a new doctor?

I would ask for it: Electrocardiographic abnormalities in anorexia nervosa include sinus bradycardia, low-voltage rightward QRS axis, conduction disturbances, and QT-interval prolongation. The most concerning cardiac manifestation in anorexia nervosa is sudden cardiac death due to malignant arrhythmias.

[Anonymous]

Here are the AAP recommendations:
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/1/e2020040279/33504/Identification-and-Management-of-Eating-Disorders?autologincheck=redirected

It says:

An electrocardiogram is important for those with significant weight loss, abnormal cardiovascular signs (such as orthostasis or bradycardia), or an electrolyte abnormality.

[Anonymous]

You’d likely do an ekg if labs are abnormal.

[Anonymous]

Sure. Anorexia can cause heart problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are the AAP recommendations:
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/1/e2020040279/33504/Identification-and-Management-of-Eating-Disorders?autologincheck=redirected

It says:

An electrocardiogram is important for those with significant weight loss, abnormal cardiovascular signs (such as orthostasis or bradycardia), or an electrolyte abnormality.

Right. And if you fit the criteria for diagnosis of anorexia nervosa but not those indications (at a medically relevant level), then an EKG is not standard recommendation.

[Anonymous]

At the risk of hijacking the thread, I’m at 43yo who recovered from years of anorexia and haven’t ever been given good info on follow up now that I’m years out in terms of cardiac care. I had an EKG done about 10 years ago because I was having recurrent palpitations but they have eased off and they were considered benign but I’ve always wondered about my lifetime risk/damage.

[Anonymous]

PP adding: Definitely look into, speak with someone about the correlation of ADD and anorexia in girls.

[Anonymous]

Anorexia can lower the heart rate to a point that can damage it. This is the reason that anorexia is the most dangerous mental illness. Even if people recover from it, it will often kill them in their 30's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anorexia can lower the heart rate to a point that can damage it. This is the reason that anorexia is the most dangerous mental illness. Even if people recover from it, it will often kill them in their 30's.

You know you can determine the heart by feeling the pulse, right? That's what the pulse it. You don't need an EKG for that.

[Anonymous]

^^"what the pulse is"

Sorry for being abrupt. It's just that in a thread where the OP is considering whether literally she should get another doctor because there was no EKG, it's actually useful to remember how much information comes from the physical exam itself.

Not everything, but a lot.