Abstract
Aims Population data suggest that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in underweight is greater compared to healthy weight. Study of underweight and catch-up in young children has demonstrated greater future CVD risk. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is a non invasive and easy to measure proxy for arterial stiffening, demonstrated to be a good predictor of CVD. We hypothesise that there will be a change in PWV and other measures of CVD risk with physical recovery. This research important as little is known about long-term physical risk from AN, and in particular how degree of underweight, changes in weight may differentially effect arterial stiffening are important questions.
Methods Here we present the rationale, hypotheses and methodologies for two current studies: 1) recruiting new patients admitted to an eating disorder unit and 2) new patients diagnosed with AN and managed in outpatient settings, to measure PWV and other CVD risk factors. For inpatients measures will be recorded weekly for six weeks, for outpatient at baseline and 6 months. Other measures for analysis will include severity of AN, and for outpatient cardiac echo and bone density. Analyses will focus on longitudinal statistical methods to study change in CVD risk in both studies.