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Prevalence of anxiety disorders in community dwelling older adults in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2016

Ada Wai Tung Fung ,
Wai-Chi Chan ,
Corine Sau-Man Wong ,
Eric Yu-Hai Chen ,
Roger Man-Kin Ng ,
Edwin Ho-Ming Lee ,
Wing-Chung Chang ,
Se-Fong Hung ,
Eric Fuk-Chi Cheung  and
Pak-Chung Sham
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Ada Wai Tung Fung*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Wai-Chi Chan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Corine Sau-Man Wong
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Eric Yu-Hai Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Roger Man-Kin Ng
Affiliation:
Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Edwin Ho-Ming Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Wing-Chung Chang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Se-Fong Hung
Affiliation:
Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Eric Fuk-Chi Cheung
Affiliation:
Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Pak-Chung Sham
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Helen Fung-Kum Chiu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Ming Lam
Affiliation:
Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Tin-Po Chiang
Affiliation:
Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Jim van Os
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Joseph Tak-Fai Lau
Affiliation:
Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Glyn Lewis
Affiliation:
Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Paul Bebbington
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
Linda Chiu Wa Lam
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey Team
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Ada Wai Tung Fung, Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. Phone: +852 26076045; Fax: +852 26675464. Email: ada_fung@cuhk.edu.hk.
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Abstract

Background:

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.

Method:

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).

Result:

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 (χ2 = 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).

Conclusions:

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.

Keywords

prevalenceanxiety disorderscommunityolder adultsmemorycognitive functionearly signmental health
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , February 2017 , pp. 259 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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