BACKGROUND: There are conflicting data on the role of anxiety in predicting 
mortality.
AIMS: To evaluate the 10-year mortality risk associated with anxiety in 
community-dwelling elderly people.
METHOD: Using data from 718 men and 1046 women aged 65 years and over, 
gender-stratified associations of anxiety symptoms (Spielberger State-Trait 
Anxiety Inventory, third tertile) and current DSM-IV anxiety disorder including 
generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and phobia with all-cause and cardiovascular 
mortality were determined.
RESULTS: In women, mortality risk was increased for anxiety disorder and GAD in 
multivariate Cox models (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53, 95% CI 1.02-2.27 and HR = 
2.04, 95% CI 1.08-3.86 respectively), whereas for phobia it was nearly 
significant (HR = 1.52, 95% CI 0.94-2.47). Anxiety trait symptoms became 
non-significant as a result of the confounding effect of depressive symptoms. 
Anxiety disorder was associated with cardiovascular mortality in univariate 
analysis (HR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.16-5.07). No significant associations were found 
in men.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a gender-specific association of anxiety and 
mortality.