Diagnosed eating disorders in Danish registers – incidence, prevalence, mortality, and polygenic risk

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Eating disorders are a group of severe and potentially enduring psychiatric disorders associated with increased mortality. Compared to other severe mental illnesses, they have received relatively limited research attention. Epidemiological studies often only report relative measures despite these being difficult to interpret having limited practical use. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of diagnosed anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified recorded in Danish hospital registers and estimate both relative and absolute measures of subsequent mortality - both all-cause and cause-specific in a general nationwide population of 1,667,374 individuals. In a smaller, genetically informed case-cohort sample, the prediction of polygenic scores for AN, body fat percentage, and body mass index on AN prevalence and severity was estimated. Despite males being less likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder, those that do have significantly increased rates of mortality. AN prevalence was highest for individuals with high AN and low body fat percentage/body mass index polygenic scores.

Source: Psychiatry Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115927

Authors: Janne Tidselbak Larsen, Zeynep Yilmaz, Cynthia M. Bulik, Clara Albiñana, Bjarni Jóhann Vilhjálmsson, Preben Bo Mortensen, Liselotte Vogdrup Petersen

Institutions: Aarhus University, Lundbeck Foundation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Karolinska Institutet, Broad Institute

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,560

Funders: Klarman Family Foundation, National Research Foundation, Danmarks Grundforskningsfond, Lundbeckfonden, Vetenskapsrådet, Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond, Novo Nordisk Fonden, Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond, H. Lundbeck A/S, National Institute of Mental Health

OpenAlex ID: W4395694379