Alterations in QT dispersion in the surface electrocardiogram of female adolescent inpatients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa

Increased QT dispersion (QTd) reflects cardiac autonomic imbalance and indicates elevated risk for cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, we assessed heart rate, QT and corrected QT intervals, and QTd in 20 acutely ill bulimia nervosa adolescent inpatients on admission and discharge. A significant decrease in QTd was found between admission and discharge (67 ± 13 milliseconds vs 55 ± 12 milliseconds, respectively; P = .0005). The decrease in QTd values correlated significantly with the decrease in the frequency of bingeing/purging behaviors (r = 0.51, P = .022). No significant correlations were found between the electrocardiographic indices and other clinical and laboratory measures. The elevated QTd in malnourished bulimia nervosa patients might indicate a cardiac autonomic imbalance that is most likely corrected after symptomatic improvement.