Abstract
Purpose
A long debate exists about the connection between anorexia nervosa (AN) and scoliosis due to conflicting evidence. No study so far has evaluated the prevalence of scoliosis in patients with AN. The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis in patients with AN.
Methods
Design: cross-sectional study. Study group: convenience sample of all patients matching the inclusion criteria. Control group: female participants coming from an epidemiological screening for scoliosis. Inclusion criteria: patients had a diagnosis of AN during adolescence according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. We applied a two-level screening using a Bunnell scoliometer and a radiograph. We calculated the odds ratio compared with participants coming from a school screening.
Results
Seventy-seven females with AN were compared to 816 females screened for scoliosis. The prevalence of scoliosis in the AN group was 16.9% (OR 5.77, 95% CI 3.12–10.67) with respect to the control group. If we consider as positive only those who received a scoliosis diagnosis during adolescence, the OR would be 3.15 (95% CI 1.55–6.42).
Discussion
This is the first study performed on patients with AN showing a sixfold greater odds of presenting with scoliosis. A cause–effect relationship cannot be determined due to the design.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to the all the staff, including MDs, nurses, psychologists, and nutritionists, involved in the management of AN in the Division of Eating Disorders at the Istituto Auxologico Italiano. This research was partially supported by funds of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano and of the Italian Ministry for University and Research, Rome, Italy (FIRB Grant: RBFR12DELS_004).
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Zaina, F., Pesenti, F., Persani, L. et al. Prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis in anorexia nervosa patients: results from a cross-sectional study. Eur Spine J 27, 293–297 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5181-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5181-9