title: Prevalence of anxiety disorders in community dwelling older adults in Hong Kong.
abstract: Anxiety disorders are prevalent yet under-recognized in late life. We examined the prevalence of anxiety disorders in a representative sample of community dwelling older adults in Hong Kong.
  
  
  
  Data on 1,158 non-demented respondents aged 60-75 years were extracted from the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity survey (HKMMS). Anxiety was assessed with the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R).
  
  
  
  One hundred and thirty-seven respondents (11.9%, 95% CI = 10-13.7%) had common mental disorders with a CIS-R score of 12 or above. 8% (95% CI = 6.5-9.6%) had anxiety, 2.2% (95% CI = 1.3-3%) had an anxiety disorder comorbid with depressive disorder, and 1.7% (95% CI = 1-2.5%) had depression. Anxious individuals were more likely to be females (χ 2 = 25.3, p < 0.001), had higher chronic physical burden (t = -9.3, p < 0.001), lower SF-12 physical functioning score (t = 9.2, p < 0.001), and poorer delayed recall (t = 2.3, p = 0.022). The risk of anxiety was higher for females (OR 2.8, 95% C.I. 1.7-4.6, p < 0.001) and those with physical illnesses (OR 1.4, 95% C.I. 1.3-1.6, p < 0.001). The risk of anxiety disorders increased in those with disorders of cardiovascular (OR 1.9, 95% C.I. 1.2-2.9, p = 0.003), musculoskeletal (OR 2.0, 95% C.I. 1.5-2.7, p < 0.001), and genitourinary system (OR 2.0, 95% C.I. 1.3-3.2, p = 0.002).
  
  
  
  The prevalence of anxiety disorders in Hong Kong older population was 8%. Female gender and those with poor physical health were at a greater risk of developing anxiety disorders. Our findings also suggested potential risk for early sign of memory impairment in cognitively healthy individuals with anxiety disorders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The Chinese University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Ada Wai Tung
authors: AW
authors: Fung
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Wai-Chi
authors: WC
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Corine Sau-Man
authors: CS
authors: Wong
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Eric Yu-Hai
authors: EY
authors: Chen
authors: Kowloon Hospital,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Roger Man-Kin
authors: RM
authors: Ng
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Edwin Ho-Ming
authors: EH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Wing-Chung
authors: WC
authors: Chang
authors: Kwai Chung Hospital,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Se-Fong
authors: SF
authors: Hung
authors: Castle Peak Hospital,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Eric Fuk-Chi
authors: EF
authors: Cheung
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Pak-Chung
authors: PC
authors: Sham
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The Chinese University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Helen Fung-Kum
authors: HF
authors: Chiu
authors: Castle Peak Hospital,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Lam
authors: Castle Peak Hospital,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Tin-Po
authors: TP
authors: Chiang
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology,Maastricht University Medical Centre,Maastricht,the Netherlands.
authors: Jim
authors: J
authors: van Os
authors: Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care,The Chinese University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Joseph Tak-Fai
authors: JT
authors: Lau
authors: Academic Unit of Psychiatry,University of Bristol,Bristol,UK.
authors: Glyn
authors: G
authors: Lewis
authors: Department of Mental Health Sciences,University College London,London,UK.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Bebbington
authors: Department of Psychiatry,The Chinese University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China.
authors: Linda Chiu Wa
authors: LC
authors: Lam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003071:Cognition; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: anxiety disorders; cognitive function; community; early sign; memory; mental health; older adults; prevalence