Self-reported anxiety, general medical conditions, and disability bed days.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of self-reported anxiety on the number of days persons with various general medical conditions spend in bed owing to disability.


METHODS
Self-reported medical illness and disability data from a nationally representative household survey sample (N = 20,884) were analyzed.


RESULTS
Among respondents with general medical conditions, those with self-reported anxiety had a nearly fourfold greater length of disability (mean = 18.0 bed days) than the nonanxious respondents (mean = 4.8 bed days). After adjustment for differences in demographic characteristics and burden of general medical illness, anxiety was associated with an additional 3.8 bed days.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported anxiety in combination with general medical conditions may be associated with extensive functional impairment.
Marcus
S C
SC
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Olfson
M
M
Pincus
H A
HA
Shear
M K
MK
Zarin
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged