title: Anxiety and the risk of death in older men and women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are inconsistent reports as to whether people with anxiety disorders have a higher mortality risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether anxiety disorders predict mortality in older men and women in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data were used from a large, community-based random sample (n=3107) of older men and women (55-85 years) in The Netherlands, with a follow-up period of 7.5 years. Anxiety disorders were assessed according to DSM-III criteria in a two-stage screening design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men, the adjusted mortality risk was 1.78 (95% CI 1.01-3.13) in cases with diagnosed anxiety disorders at baseline. In women, no significant association was found with mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed a gender difference in the association between anxiety and mortality. For men, but not for women, an increased mortality risk was found for anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7,1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Hpj.vanhout@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Hein P J
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: van Hout
authors.forename: Aartjan T F
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Beurs
authors.forename: Hannie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Comijs
authors.forename: Harm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Marwijk
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Tilburg
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors