Target groups for the prevention of late-life anxiety.
BACKGROUND
Anxiety disorders in older people are highly prevalent, yet there is little evidence to guide targeted prevention strategies.


OBJECTIVE
To identify subgroups at increased risk of developing anxiety in later life.


METHODS
Anxiety was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression anxiety sub-scale in 1931 people aged 55-85 years followed over 3 years. Risk factors were identified that had a high combined attributable fraction, indicative of substantial health gains when the adverse effect of the risk factors can be contained.


RESULTS
Factors significantly associated with increased risk of developing anxiety included sub-threshold anxiety, depression, two or more chronic illnesses, poor sense of mastery, poor self-rated health and low educational level.


CONCLUSIONS
The identified risk groups are small, thus providing prevention with a narrow focus, and health gains are likely to be more substantial than in groups not exposed to these risk factors. Nevertheless, more research is needed to produce evidence on target groups where prevention has optimal impacts.
Smit
Filip
F
Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands. FSmit@Trimbos.NL
Comijs
Hannie
H
Schoevers
Robert
R
Cuijpers
Pim
P
Deeg
Dorly
D
Beekman
Aartjan
A
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011316:Preventive Psychiatry / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors