Anxiety disorders and risk of mortality

A large Danish health registry study followed individuals born between 1 January 1955 and 31 November 2006; follow-up ended at the date of their emigration from Denmark, date of death or 31 December 2011, whichever came first.¹ The risk of increased mortality was particularly high among people with >2 anxiety disorders, with an all-cause mortality rate ratio of 3.27 (95% CI: 2.33, 4.42).¹ Analyses exploring the effect of specific anxiety disorders did not indicate that the association between increased mortality risk and anxiety disorders was driven by one specific type of anxiety disorder.¹

Reference:

1. Meier SM, Mattheisen M, Mors O, et al. Increased mortality among people with anxiety disorders: total population study. Br J Psychiatry 2016; 209 (3): 216–221.