MORTALITY IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA IN DENMARK DURING THE PERIOD 1970-1987

In this nation-wide register linkage study of the mortality among psyc hiatric in-patients with anorexia nervosa who were admitted between 19 70 and 1986 (n=853), 50 deaths were recorded during a mean follow-up p eriod of 7.8 years (6680 person-fears of observation). Among male subj ects, five of 63 probands died, and the mean age at death was 24.5 yea rs (range 14.2-48.1 years). Among female subjects, 45 of 790 probands died, and the mean age at death was 36 years (range 18.1-64.7 years). The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 9.1 in both sexes. A signif icantly increased SMR was demonstrated in males up to 5 years after in dex admission, and for females up to 15 years. There was no mortality among childhood-onset female subjects, but among males one death was r ecorded in this age group. In male subjects the highest SMR was found among those with index admission in the second decade of Life, and in females among those with index admission in the third decade of life. The SMR was maximal during the first year after index admission. Suici de was the dominant cause of death among subjects who died from unnatu ral causes (18 of 22 cases). Among those who died from natural causes (24 subjects), 13 individuals died from anorexia nervosa and 11 indivi duals died from other illnesses.