Coexisting anxiety disorders alter associations with physical disorders in the elderly: A Taiwan cross-sectional nationwide study

AIM: Our study aimed to explore whether anxiety disorders were associated with certain physical illnesses as previous studies mentioned or a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders would influence the physical illnesses in the elderly by the population-based analyses. METHODS: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we included subjects aged over 60 years. Nine hundred and fifty four subjects with anxiety disorders defined by ICD-9-CM and 4770 control subjects without anxiety disorders were included. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the risks of physical illnesses in the both groups. RESULTS: Subjects with anxiety disorders had higher ORs of cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.33-2.80), cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.07), peptic ulcer (OR = 3.41), and hyperlipidemia (OR = 2.99). Furthermore, a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders may further increase the ORs of the physical illnesses aforementioned except the peripheral vascular disorder when compared to those without anxiety disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly subjects with more anxiety disorders may be associated with vascular and metabolic problems. Carefully assessing the physical illnesses for the elderly with anxiety disorders should be aware in the clinical practice. Language: en