Pregnancy outcomes in women with active anorexia nervosa: a systematic review. 2022

Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia. jeremy.pan@health.qld.gov.au.

BACKGROUND It is a common misconception that women with active anorexia nervosa (AN) are less likely to conceive. Pregnancies in women with AN are considered high risk. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore pregnancy complications in women with active AN, including maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. METHODS The authors conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA statement guidelines with stringent selection criteria to include studies on patients with active AN during pregnancy. RESULTS There were 21 studies included in our review. Anaemia, caesarean section, concurrent recreational substance use, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, small-for-gestation (SGA) birth, and low birth weight were the most reported pregnancy complications in women with active AN, while the rates of gestational diabetes and postpartum haemorrhage were lower. CONCLUSIONS Women with active AN have a different profile of pregnancy complications comparing to malnourished women and women in starvation. We recommend early discussion with women diagnosed with AN regarding their fertility and pregnancy complications. We recommend clinicians to aim to improve physical and psychological symptoms of AN as well as correction of any nutritional deficiency ideally prior to conception. Management of pregnancies in women with active AN requires regular monitoring, active involvement of obstetricians and psychiatrist. Paediatric follow-up postpartum is recommended to ensure adequate feeding, wellbeing and general health of the infants. Psychiatric follow-up is recommended for mothers due to risk of worsening symptoms of AN during perinatal period.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
May 2020, The International journal of eating disorders,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
November 2010, Obstetrics and gynecology,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
December 2012, Psychological medicine,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
August 2006, BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
April 2023, The International journal of eating disorders,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
September 2012, Behavioural pharmacology,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
September 2020, The International journal of eating disorders,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
May 2020, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
June 2023, Translational behavioral medicine,
Jeremy Ryan Pan, and Tina Yutong Li, and Danny Tucker, and Kai Yang Chen
March 2023, Reproductive biomedicine online,
Copied contents to your clipboard!