Correlation Analysis Between Anxiety in Older Adults and Common Geriatric Syndromes

Correlation Analysis Between Anxiety in Older Adults and Common Geriatric Syndromes | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Correlation Analysis Between Anxiety in Older Adults and Common Geriatric Syndromes Ying Feng, Li Shen, Yuefei Sun This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose To investigate the correlation between anxiety in the elderly and common geriatric syndromes. Method This retrospective study enrolled 210 patients hospitalized in the Geriatrics Department of Huzhou First People's Hospital between December 2023 and November 2025 who underwent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment(CGA).Based on Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores, patients were divided into an anxiety group (86 cases) and a non-anxiety group (124 cases).Collected all patients' general information and geriatric assessment results, including age, educational attainment, SPPB score, sarcopenia status, insomnia status, urinary incontinence status, and constipation status. Analyzed differences in each indicator between the two groups and used binary logistic regression to identify risk factors for anxiety in older adults.Analysed the predictive value of various risk factors for anxiety in the elderly through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Result The prevalence of anxiety among hospitalised elderly individuals was 40.95%. Significant statistical differences ( P <0.05) were observed between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group regarding variables such as educational attainment, sleep disturbances, and constipation.Results from binary logistic regression analysis indicate that advanced age (OR=0.938, 95% CI 0.888–0.991), sleep disturbance (OR=0.259, 95% CI 0.121–0.557), and constipation (OR=0.288, 95% CI 0.139–0.595) were risk factors for the occurrence of anxiety symptoms in hospitalised elderly individuals ( P < 0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of anxiety among the elderly is relatively high. Advanced age, sleep disorders, and constipation constitute risk factors for anxiety in older adults.For common geriatric syndromes, early detection and early intervention are essential. The elderly people Anxiety Comprehensive geriatric assessment Geriatric syndromes Figures Figure 1 Key summary points Aim Exploring the association between anxiety in older adults and common geriatric syndromes. Findings Aging, sleep disorders, and constipation are risk factors for anxiety in the elderly. Message This study highlights the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment, as different geriatric syndromes may interact with one another. Early intervention is essential for identified geriatric syndromes. Introduction As China enters an aging society, the proportion of the elderly population is increasing. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, by 2024, the population aged 60 and above accounted for 15.6% of the national population. With advancing age, mental health issues significantly impact the health and quality of life of the elderly. Among these, geriatric anxiety disorders are common psychiatric disorders in the elderly population[1].Anxiety disorders can severely impact the health of older adults and may even increase their risk of developing various conditions, including mild cognitive impairment, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, as well as heightening the incidence of falls and suicide among this demographic[2-6].In addition to specific medical conditions, older adults often experience geriatric syndromes such as frailty, cognitive impairments, sarcopenia, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, and depression. These syndromes exhibit a remarkably high prevalence among older adults, significantly compromising their physical and mental wellbeing.Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is one of the core techniques in modern geriatric medicine. It involves a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of elderly patients using multidimensional assessment scales and professional examination equipment to identify targets for intervention and treatment, thereby improving the health and functional status of older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between anxiety and common geriatric syndromes among hospitalized elderly patients and to analyze potential risk factors influencing anxiety symptoms. By intervening in related risk factors early, the incidence of anxiety symptoms can be reduced. Methodology 1.1 Subjects: The study subjects were patients hospitalized in the Geriatrics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University from December 2023 to November 2025 who underwent a CGA. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age ≥ 60 years; (2) Clear consciousness with the ability to communicate effectively and comprehend the assessment tests; (3) Capability to complete all assessment methods related to the CGA; and (4) Provision of signed informed consent for the CGA. Exclusion criteria included: (1) Significant cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders; (2) Mobility impairment, inability to walk or stand independently; or (3) Critical illness resulting in incapacity. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University. 1.2 Data collection: Basic information such as patients' age, gender, and educational attainment was obtained via questionnaire. 1.3 Geriatric Comprehensive Assessment-Related Scales: All patients were guided by a geriatric specialist nurse responsible for the CGA to complete the assessment. Subsequently, the accuracy of the assessment results was reviewed and verified by a geriatrician. 1.3.1 Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) [7]. The scoring criteria are as follows: 12-14 points indicates normal nutritional status; 8-11 points indicates risk of malnutrition; 0-7 points indicates malnutrition. In this study, patients with a risk of malnutrition and those with normal nutritional status were categorized as having no malnutrition. 1.3.2 The Morse Fall Risk Assessment Scale was employed to evaluate fall risk, with scores ranging from 0 to 24: low fall risk; 25 to 44: moderate fall risk; ≥45: high fall risk. In this study, the raw scale scores were directly utilised without further risk stratification. 1.3.3 Sleep assessment utilised the Asens Insomnia Scale, with total scores ≤3 indicating no insomnia; 4–6 points denoting mild insomnia; 7–10 points signifying moderate insomnia; and ≥11 points representing severe insomnia. In this study, scores exceeding 3 were uniformly categorised as indicative of sleep disturbance. 1.3.4 The assessment of urinary incontinence employed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form(ICI-Q-SF). 1.3.5 Anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). ＜7 points: no anxiety symptoms; 7–13 points: possible anxiety; ≥14 points: definite anxiety. For this study, scores ≤13 were uniformly categorised as no anxiety. 1.3.6 The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) diagnostic criteria. Sarcopenia was diagnosed when low muscle mass was combined with low skeletal muscle mass [8]. 1.4 Statistical Methods Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 27). The normality of data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk (S-W) test. Normally distributed data were described as x±s, while non-normally distributed data were described as M(Q1, Q3).Comparisons between two independent samples for normally distributed data were conducted using the t-test, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was employed for non-normally distributed data. Count data were expressed as (%).Binary logistic regression was employed to investigate risk factors for anxiety in older adults, with P < 0.05 indicating statistically significant differences. The predictive value of each risk factor for anxiety occurrence in the elderly was analyzed using ROC curve analysis. Results 2.1 Comparison of Basic Information and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Results Between the Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups Among the Elderly. This study analyzed 210 elderly patients aged 60–93 years, including 102 males and 108 females. Female patients exhibited a higher prevalence of anxiety than male patients. As shown in Table 1, no statistically significant differences were observed between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group in terms of age, sex, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, Morse Fall Scale score, presence of sarcopenia, presence of multimorbidity, presence of polypharmacy, presence of malnutrition, or presence of urinary incontinence. However, significant statistical differences were found between the two groups in educational attainment, sleep disorders and constipation (P < 0.05). Table 1. Comparison of Basic Information and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Results Between Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups in the Elderly Population Anxiety Group Non-Anxious Group P value Age 71，（76，81.25） 77（72，83） 0.244 Gender (Male: Female) （35：51） （67：57） 0.058 Educational Background (Illiterate: Elementary School: Middle School: College and above) （25：37：23：1） （24：53：39：8） 0.043 SPPB score 7，（4，10） 8，（6，10） 0.115 Morsescore 35（35，50） 35（35，50） 0.844 Sarcopenia（Yes:No） （67：19） （87：37） 0.213 Multimorbidity（Yes:No） （43：43） （50：74） 0.166 Polypharmacy（Yes:No） （48：38） （64：60） 0.549 Sleep disorders（Yes:No） （64：23） （46：77） 0.001 Malnutrition（Yes:No） （54：32） （64：60） 0.109 Urinary incontinence（Yes:No） （31：55） （31：93） 0.085 Constipation （Yes:No） （57：29） （44：80） 0.001 2.2 Correlation Analysis of Basic Information and CGA Results Between the Geriatric Anxiety and Non-Anxiety Groups In this study, the presence or absence of anxiety was used as the dependent variable, with other assessment results serving as independent variables. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed. The results indicated that advanced age, sleep disorders, and constipation were risk factors for anxiety in the elderly (P < 0.05), as shown in Table 2. Table 2. Correlation Analysis of Basic Information and CGA Results Between Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups in the Elderly Population P value 95%CI OR B Lower limit Upper limit Age 0.022 0.888 0.991 0.938 -0.064 Gender 0.874 0.504 2.236 1.062 0.06 Educational Background 0.11 0.634 85.984 7.383 1.999 SPPB score 0.888 0.907 1.119 1.008 0.008 MORSE score 0.414 0.99 1.014 0.99 -0.01 Sarcopenia 0.895 0.417 2.149 0.946 -0.005 Multimorbidity 0.084 0.14 1.133 0.398 -0.922 Polypharmacy 0.466 0.469 1.414 0.814 -23.49 Sleep disorders 0.001 0.121 0.557 0.259 -1.349 Malnutrition 0.629 0.354 1.873 0.815 -0.205 Urinary incontinence 0.815 0.413 2.003 0.91 -0.094 Constipation 0.001 0.139 0.595 0.288 -1.246 2.3 Predictive Value of Relevant Risk Factors for Anxiety in Older Adults As shown in Figure 1, ROC curves were plotted for age, sleep disturbance, and constipation in predicting geriatric anxiety.The area under the curve (AUC) for age alone in predicting anxiety was 0.461(95% CI: 0.382,0.540), The AUC for sleep disturbance alone was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.607,0.754), and for constipation alone, it was 0.649 (95% CI: 0.573, 0.725). In contrast, the combined predictive model incorporating all three factors yielded an AUC of 0.733 (95% CI: 0.664, 0.801). The AUC for age alone was less than 0.5, indicating no significant predictive ability. Although the AUC values for sleep disorders alone and constipation alone were both greater than 0.5, they were below 0.7, suggesting a modest predictive performance for these individual models. The combined model, with an AUC exceeding 0.7, demonstrated a relatively good predictive capability. Discussion Anxiety disorders represent a prevalent mental health issue. While attention is often focused on the mental health of adolescents, the psychological well-being of the elderly is frequently overlooked. Old age constitutes a distinct phase in the life cycle. Compared to middle-aged and younger adults, older individuals often harbor concerns regarding health, disability, and financial security. With advancing age, they also confront the fear of death. Consequently, death anxiety and health anxiety are particularly prominent among the elderly population, especially among those suffering from chronic disorders [9,10,11]. These psychological issues can severely impact an individual's quality of life and social functioning. In geriatric clinical practice, it has been observed that the incidence of anxiety among the elderly is relatively high. Anxiety not only leads to various somatic discomforts without organic pathology but is also accompanied by various geriatric syndromes, the most common of which include sarcopenia, constipation, and insomnia. Functional constipation is a prevalent geriatric syndrome. Among long-term hospitalized elderly patients, the incidence of mixed-type constipation can be as high as 80% [12, 13]. Symptoms such as abdominal distension and pain caused by chronic constipation can exacerbate anxiety, forming a vicious cycle of "constipation-anxiety" [14]. For the elderly population with anxiety comorbid with constipation, timely intervention for constipation can alleviate health-related anxiety. Studies have shown that after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of constipation intervention in the elderly, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group [12]. Sleep disorders are also common geriatric syndromes with a high occurrence rate among the elderly population [15]. Insomnia not only contributes to anxiety in older adults but also exacerbates other geriatric syndromes, such as cognitive impairments and frailty [16, 17]. Some studies have even indicated that shorter sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of all‑cause mortality [18]. In middle‑aged populations, sleep disorders have been linked to a higher incidence of stroke [19]. In this study, the prevalence of sleep disorders among the elderly population reached 53.28%. Sleep disorders in older adults are often accompanied by anxiety or depression. Research indicates that interventions for insomnia can significantly reduce patients' Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores [20, 21]. Therefore, it is essential to provide timely intervention for elderly individuals experiencing sleep disorders. The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of geriatric syndromes, including sarcopenia, sleep disorders, malnutrition, and constipation, exceeded 50% in both the anxiety and non-anxiety groups. Notably, the incidence of sarcopenia, sleep disorders, and constipation was even higher in the anxiety group. When older adults are burdened by these geriatric syndromes, their health-related anxiety can be exacerbated. Conversely, anxiety can, in turn, worsen these syndromes, creating a vicious cycle of mutual reinforcement. Both older adults and their families often overlook these geriatric syndromes and may not even recognize their negative impact on physical and mental well-being. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is crucial to pay close attention to these syndromes in the elderly population. Timely comprehensive geriatric assessment should be conducted for older adults suspected of having such syndromes. For manageable conditions like sarcopenia, constipation, insomnia, and malnutrition, prompt intervention is essential. These measures can help alleviate health-related anxiety and ultimately improve the quality of life for older adults. Due to the heterogeneity of elderly inpatients, the complexity of their medical issues, and the presence of geriatric syndromes, a purely specialized approach to diagnosis and treatment is no longer suitable for older adults. Addressing only a specific disease is unlikely to effectively resolve the multifaceted health challenges faced by geriatric patients. Therefore, a comprehensive geriatric assessment should be actively implemented to achieve the goals of early detection, early diagnosis, and early intervention. This approach aims to maximally preserve and improve the physical function and self-management capacity of older adults [22], thereby enhancing their quality of life. Limitations :This study has several limitations. The scope of the research was confined to the elderly population hospitalized in the geriatrics department, which limited its representativeness. Furthermore, the sample size for the geriatric assessment was limited. During the comprehensive geriatric assessment, some patients may have deliberately concealed their actual conditions, potentially introducing bias. In summary, it remains necessary to perform comprehensive geriatric assessments for an increasing number of elderly patients in the future. This will facilitate the identification of existing geriatric syndromes and potential issues, enabling timely intervention to prevent unnecessary complications and thereby reduce medical risks. Declarations Conflict of Interest Statement: All authors of this article declare no conflicts of interest. References Chen Wei, Shen Chanche. Clinical Research on Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly [J]. Chinese Journal of Psychiatry, 2025, 58(10): 721-727.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20250515-00218 Kassem AM ,Ganguli M ,Yaffe K ,et al. Anxiety symptoms and risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in the oldest old women[J]. Aging Ment Health, 2018,22(4):474-482.DOI:10.1080/13607863.2016.1274370 Deschênes SS ,Burns RJ ,Schmitz N. Comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms and the risk of type 2 diabetes: Findings from the Lifelines Cohort Study[J].J Affect Disord, 2018,238:24-31. DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2018.05.029 Huang Haitao, Yu Jingfen, Wu Zhen, et al. 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Chinese Journal of Geriatrics Research (Electronic Edition), 2019, 6(3): 24-28.DOI:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-8757.2019.03.007 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 11 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 10 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 06 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8796965","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":589572276,"identity":"a2b9d5b0-fa73-44b5-ae89-70f00f0e1ec3","order_by":0,"name":"Ying Feng","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAs0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gYGNiBlw8PP30CkFp4DYC1pMpIzDpCm5bCNQUMCsVok0p89Lig7z2PAcIDxw8ccorQkpBvPOHebx5y5gVly5jYitNhLJByT5m27zWPZcICNmZcYLTwSiW1ALed4DA4kEK0lmQ2o5QApWniesQP9kswjOeNgM3F+4WEHh5idPT9/88EPH4nRwiCQwMAMjhoGxgZi1AMB/wGYllEwCkbBKBgFOAAA2MAyAXkNbS4AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7147-9117","institution":"The First People's Hospital of Huzhou","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ying","middleName":"","lastName":"Feng","suffix":""},{"id":589572277,"identity":"1f4f77b8-8734-4854-abd1-e1d85a718138","order_by":1,"name":"Li Shen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First People's Hospital of Huzhou","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Li","middleName":"","lastName":"Shen","suffix":""},{"id":589572278,"identity":"7b082df4-309b-4d9c-a370-d6ebf961e482","order_by":2,"name":"Yuefei Sun","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First People's Hospital of Huzhou","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yuefei","middleName":"","lastName":"Sun","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-05 12:30:29","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102838058,"identity":"a8c6cac3-c45a-4ae9-9f1d-f4458d555544","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-17 11:27:34","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":123955,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eROC Curve for Predicting Anxiety in Older Adults Based on Sleep Disorders, Constipation, Age, and Their Combination\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8796965/v1/a8aa12d613cee636b0fd6af0.png"},{"id":102838059,"identity":"54a695c3-f8af-4572-852d-5d82af6fdcd0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-17 11:27:38","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":464773,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8796965/v1/7265bf12-65cb-4e2e-b366-55459b0fb1f8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Correlation Analysis Between Anxiety in Older Adults and Common Geriatric Syndromes","fulltext":[{"header":"Key summary points","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAim\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExploring the association between anxiety in older adults and common geriatric syndromes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFindings\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAging, sleep disorders, and constipation are risk factors for anxiety in the elderly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMessage\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study highlights the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment, as different geriatric syndromes may interact with one another. Early intervention is essential for identified geriatric syndromes.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eAs China enters an aging society, the proportion of the elderly population is increasing. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, by 2024, the population aged 60 and above accounted for 15.6% of the national population. With advancing age, mental health issues significantly impact the health and quality of life of the elderly. Among these, geriatric anxiety disorders are common psychiatric disorders in the elderly population[1].Anxiety disorders can severely impact the health of older adults and may even increase their risk of developing various conditions, including mild cognitive impairment, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, as well as heightening the incidence of falls and suicide among this demographic[2-6].In addition to specific medical conditions, older adults often experience geriatric syndromes such as frailty, cognitive impairments, sarcopenia, insomnia, constipation, anxiety, and depression. These syndromes exhibit a remarkably high prevalence among older adults, significantly compromising their physical and mental wellbeing.Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is one of the core techniques in modern geriatric medicine. It involves a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of elderly patients using multidimensional assessment scales and professional examination equipment to identify targets for intervention and treatment, thereby improving the health and functional status of older adults. This study aims to explore the relationship between anxiety and common geriatric syndromes among hospitalized elderly patients and to analyze potential risk factors influencing anxiety symptoms. By intervening in related risk factors early, the incidence of anxiety symptoms can be reduced.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methodology","content":"\u003cp\u003e1.1 Subjects:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study subjects were patients hospitalized in the Geriatrics Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University from December 2023 to November 2025 who underwent a CGA. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age \u0026ge; 60 years; (2) Clear consciousness with the ability to communicate effectively and comprehend the assessment tests; (3) Capability to complete all assessment methods related to the CGA; and (4) Provision of signed informed consent for the CGA. Exclusion criteria included: (1) Significant cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders; (2) Mobility impairment, inability to walk or stand independently; or (3) Critical illness resulting in incapacity. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.2 Data collection:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBasic information such as patients\u0026apos; age, gender, and educational attainment was obtained via questionnaire.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3 Geriatric Comprehensive Assessment-Related Scales:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll patients were guided by a geriatric specialist nurse responsible for the CGA to complete the assessment. Subsequently, the accuracy of the assessment results was reviewed and verified by a geriatrician.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.1 Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) [7]. The scoring criteria are as follows: 12-14 points indicates normal nutritional status; 8-11 points indicates risk of malnutrition; 0-7 points indicates malnutrition. In this study, patients with a risk of malnutrition and those with normal nutritional status were categorized as having no malnutrition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.2 The Morse Fall Risk Assessment Scale was employed to evaluate fall risk, with scores ranging from 0 to 24: low fall risk; 25 to 44: moderate fall risk; \u0026ge;45: high fall risk. In this study, the raw scale scores were directly utilised without further risk stratification.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.3 Sleep assessment utilised the Asens Insomnia Scale, with total scores \u0026le;3 indicating no insomnia; 4\u0026ndash;6 points denoting mild insomnia; 7\u0026ndash;10 points signifying moderate insomnia; and \u0026ge;11 points representing severe insomnia. In this study, scores exceeding 3 were uniformly categorised as indicative of sleep disturbance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.4 The assessment of urinary incontinence employed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form(ICI-Q-SF).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.5 Anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA).\u0026nbsp;＜7 points: no anxiety symptoms; 7\u0026ndash;13 points: possible anxiety; \u0026ge;14 points: definite anxiety. For this study, scores \u0026le;13 were uniformly categorised as no anxiety.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.3.6 The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) diagnostic criteria. Sarcopenia was diagnosed when low muscle mass was combined with low skeletal muscle mass [8].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.4 Statistical Methods\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 27). The normality of data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk (S-W) test. Normally distributed data were described as x\u0026plusmn;s, while non-normally distributed data were described as M(Q1, Q3).Comparisons between two independent samples for normally distributed data were conducted using the t-test, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was employed for non-normally distributed data. \u0026nbsp;Count data were expressed as (%).Binary logistic regression was employed to investigate risk factors for anxiety in older adults, with P \u0026lt; 0.05 indicating statistically significant differences. The predictive value of each risk factor for anxiety occurrence in the elderly was analyzed using \u0026nbsp;ROC curve analysis.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e2.1 Comparison of Basic Information and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Results Between the Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups Among the Elderly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study analyzed 210 elderly patients aged 60\u0026ndash;93 years, including 102 males and 108 females. Female patients exhibited a higher prevalence of anxiety than male patients. As shown in Table 1, no statistically significant differences were observed between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group in terms of age, sex, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, Morse Fall Scale score, presence of sarcopenia, presence of multimorbidity, presence of polypharmacy, presence of malnutrition, or presence of urinary incontinence. However, significant statistical differences were found between the two groups in educational attainment, sleep disorders and constipation (P \u0026lt; 0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 1. Comparison of Basic Information and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Results Between Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups in the Elderly Population\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"625\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnxiety Group\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNon-Anxious Group\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP value\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e71，（76，81.25）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e77（72，83）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.244\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGender (Male: Female)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（35：51）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（67：57）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.058\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEducational Background (Illiterate: Elementary School: Middle School: College and above)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（25：37：23：1）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（24：53：39：8）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSPPB score\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7，（4，10）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8，（6，10）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.115\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMorsescore\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35（35，50）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35（35，50）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.844\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSarcopenia（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（67：19）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（87：37）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.213\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultimorbidity（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（43：43）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（50：74）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.166\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolypharmacy（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（48：38）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（64：60）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.549\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSleep disorders（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（64：23）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（46：77）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMalnutrition（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（54：32）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（64：60）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.109\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUrinary incontinence（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（31：55）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（31：93）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.085\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 235px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConstipation\u0026nbsp;（Yes:No）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 150px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（57：29）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 163px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e（44：80）\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 77px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.2 Correlation Analysis of Basic Information and CGA Results Between the Geriatric Anxiety and Non-Anxiety Groups\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the presence or absence of anxiety was used as the dependent variable, with other assessment results serving as independent variables. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed. The results indicated that advanced age, sleep disorders, and constipation were risk factors for anxiety in the elderly (P \u0026lt; 0.05), as shown in Table 2.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 2. Correlation Analysis of Basic Information and CGA Results Between Anxious and Non-Anxious Groups in the Elderly Population\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP value\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e95%CI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLower limit\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUpper limit\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.888\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.991\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.938\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.064\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.874\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.504\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.236\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.062\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEducational Background\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.634\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e85.984\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.383\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.999\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSPPB score\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.888\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.907\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.119\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.008\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.008\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMORSE score\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.414\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.014\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSarcopenia\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.895\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.417\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.149\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.946\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.005\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultimorbidity\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.084\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.133\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.398\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.922\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolypharmacy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.466\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.469\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.414\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.814\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-23.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSleep disorders\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.121\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.557\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.259\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.349\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMalnutrition\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.629\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.354\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.873\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.815\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.205\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUrinary incontinence\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.815\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.413\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.003\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-0.094\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 121px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConstipation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 68px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.139\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.595\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.288\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 95px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-1.246\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.3 Predictive Value of Relevant Risk Factors for Anxiety in Older Adults\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs shown in Figure 1, ROC curves were plotted for age, sleep disturbance, and constipation in predicting geriatric anxiety.The area under the curve (AUC) for age alone in predicting anxiety was 0.461(95% CI: 0.382,0.540), The AUC for sleep disturbance alone was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.607,0.754), and for constipation alone, it was 0.649 (95% CI: 0.573, 0.725). In contrast, the combined predictive model incorporating all three factors yielded an AUC of 0.733 (95% CI: 0.664, 0.801). \u0026nbsp;The AUC for age alone was less than 0.5, indicating no significant predictive ability. Although the AUC values for sleep disorders alone and constipation alone were both greater than 0.5, they were below 0.7, suggesting a modest predictive performance for these individual models. The combined model, with an AUC exceeding 0.7, demonstrated a relatively good predictive capability.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAnxiety disorders represent a prevalent mental health issue. While attention is often focused on the mental health of adolescents, the psychological well-being of the elderly is frequently overlooked. Old age constitutes a distinct phase in the life cycle. Compared to middle-aged and younger adults, older individuals often harbor concerns regarding health, disability, and financial security. With advancing age, they also confront the fear of death. Consequently, death anxiety and health anxiety are particularly prominent among the elderly population, especially among those suffering from chronic disorders [9,10,11]. These psychological issues can severely impact an individual\u0026apos;s quality of life and social functioning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn geriatric clinical practice, it has been observed that the incidence of anxiety among the elderly is relatively high. Anxiety not only leads to various somatic discomforts without organic pathology but is also accompanied by various geriatric syndromes, the most common of which include sarcopenia, constipation, and insomnia. Functional constipation is a prevalent geriatric syndrome. Among long-term hospitalized elderly patients, the incidence of mixed-type constipation can be as high as 80%\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e[12, 13]. Symptoms such as abdominal distension and pain caused by chronic constipation can exacerbate anxiety, forming a vicious cycle of \u0026quot;constipation-anxiety\u0026quot; [14]. For the elderly population with anxiety comorbid with constipation, timely intervention for constipation can alleviate health-related anxiety. Studies have shown that after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of constipation intervention in the elderly, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group [12].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSleep disorders are also common geriatric syndromes with a high occurrence rate among the elderly population [15]. Insomnia not only contributes to anxiety in older adults but also exacerbates other geriatric syndromes, such as cognitive impairments and frailty [16, 17]. Some studies have even indicated that shorter sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of all‑cause mortality [18]. In middle‑aged populations, sleep disorders have been linked to a higher incidence of stroke [19].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the prevalence of sleep disorders among the elderly population reached 53.28%. Sleep disorders in older adults are often accompanied by anxiety or depression. Research indicates that interventions for insomnia can significantly reduce patients\u0026apos; Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores [20, 21]. Therefore, it is essential to provide timely intervention for elderly individuals experiencing sleep disorders.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of geriatric syndromes, including sarcopenia, sleep disorders, malnutrition, and constipation, exceeded 50% in both the anxiety and non-anxiety groups. Notably, the incidence of sarcopenia, sleep disorders, and constipation was even higher in the anxiety group. When older adults are burdened by these geriatric syndromes, their health-related anxiety can be exacerbated. Conversely, anxiety can, in turn, worsen these syndromes, creating a vicious cycle of mutual reinforcement. Both older adults and their families often overlook these geriatric syndromes and may not even recognize their negative impact on physical and mental well-being. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is crucial to pay close attention to these syndromes in the elderly population. Timely comprehensive geriatric assessment should be conducted for older adults suspected of having such syndromes. For manageable conditions like sarcopenia, constipation, insomnia, and malnutrition, prompt intervention is essential. These measures can help alleviate health-related anxiety and ultimately improve the quality of life for older adults.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to the heterogeneity of elderly inpatients, the complexity of their medical issues, and the presence of geriatric syndromes, a purely specialized approach to diagnosis and treatment is no longer suitable for older adults. Addressing only a specific disease is unlikely to effectively resolve the multifaceted health challenges faced by geriatric patients. Therefore, a comprehensive geriatric assessment should be actively implemented to achieve the goals of early detection, early diagnosis, and early intervention. This approach aims to maximally preserve and improve the physical function and self-management capacity of older adults\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e[22], thereby enhancing their quality of life.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLimitations\u003c/strong\u003e:This study has several limitations. The scope of the research was confined to the elderly population hospitalized in the geriatrics department, which limited its representativeness. Furthermore, the sample size for the geriatric assessment was limited. During the comprehensive geriatric assessment, some patients may have deliberately concealed their actual conditions, potentially introducing bias. In summary, it remains necessary to perform comprehensive geriatric assessments for an increasing number of elderly patients in the future. This will facilitate the identification of existing geriatric syndromes and potential issues, enabling timely intervention to prevent unnecessary complications and thereby reduce medical risks.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest Statement:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors of this article declare no conflicts of interest.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChen Wei, Shen Chanche. Clinical Research on Anxiety Disorders in the Elderly [J]. Chinese Journal of Psychiatry, 2025, 58(10): 721-727.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20250515-00218\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKassem AM ,Ganguli M ,Yaffe K ,et al. Anxiety symptoms and risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in the oldest old women[J]. Aging Ment Health, 2018,22(4):474-482.DOI:10.1080/13607863.2016.1274370\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesch\u0026ecirc;nes SS ,Burns RJ ,Schmitz N. Comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms and the risk of type 2 diabetes: Findings from the Lifelines Cohort Study[J].J Affect Disord, 2018,238:24-31. DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2018.05.029\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHuang Haitao, Yu Jingfen, Wu Zhen, et al. Meta-Analysis of Anxiety and Fall Risk in Older Adults [J]. Modern Preventive Medicine, 2021,48(14):2594-2598.DOI:10.20043/j.cnki.mpm.2021.14.022.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBakkaneBendixen A ,Engedal K ,Selb\u0026aelig;k G ,et al. Anxiety symptoms in older adults with depression are associated with suicidality[J]. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 2018,45(3-4):180-189.DOI:10.1159/000488480\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmdin CA ,Odutayo A ,Wong CX ,et al. Meta-analysis of anxiety as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease[J]. Am J Cardiol, 2016,118(4):511-519.DOI:10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.05.041\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMa Lingling, Xu Hong, Wang Hongmei. Correlation Study on Depression Symptoms and Sarcopenia in Elderly Inpatients in Xinjiang [J]. Xinjiang Medicine, 2025, 55(11): 325-329.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1001-5183.2025.11.101\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJiang Shan, Kang Lin, Liu Xiaohong. Interpretation of the 2019 Asian Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sarcopenia [J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics, 2020, 39(4): 373-374.DOI:0.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-9026.2020.04.002\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKaraman S, Bah\u0026ccedil;ecioğlu Turan G ,et al. Examination of Elder Abuse and Death Anxiety in Older Adults With a Chronic Disease. Nurs Open. 2025 Jan;12(1):e70092. DOI:10.1002/nop2.70092\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXie Yuntian, Zhong Meizhu, Zhu Fen. Death Anxiety Among the Elderly in the Context of Population Aging and Its Comparison with Middle-Aged Adults [J]. China Health Services Management, 2019(3):4.DOI:\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLei Yu, Zeng Xin, Wang Tingting, et al. Interpretation of the 2023 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Statement on Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(14): 1665-1671.DOI:10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2024.0003\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePi Fenglan, Li Xinghui, Chen Lili, et al. Clinical Efficacy and Impact on Quality of Life of a Comprehensive Intervention for Functional Constipation in Elderly Hospitalized Patients [J]. Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science, 2025, 34(08): 712-715. DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn371468-20240911-00415\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang Xiaoli, Zheng Songbai. Current Status of Epidemiological Research on Chronic Constipation [J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatric Multiorgan Diseases, 2014(3):178-181.DOI:\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWang Yongbang, Huang Chengzhong. Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mixed Constipation [J]. Chinese Journal of Colorectal Diseases (Electronic Edition), 2022, 11(1): 59-64.DOI:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-3224.2022.01.009\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKang Yue, Duan Yinglong, Qin Ning, et al. Survey on Sleep Disorders Among Retired Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals and Their Influencing Factors [J]. Chinese Journal of Physician, 2024, 26(05): 778-781.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn431274-20240229-00343\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhao Cui, Huo Jing, Wang Miao, et al. Correlation Analysis Between Geriatric Syndromes and Sleep Disorders in the Elderly [J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics, 2020, 39(12): 1430-1433.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-9026.2020.12.014\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeng Qingqing, Bian Meng, Du Yufeng. Study on Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults and Its Influencing Factors [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2021, 24(24): 3032-3038.DOI:10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2021.00.530\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang Haiyang, Jiang Huiru, Yang Yining, et al. Association between Sleep Duration and All-Cause Mortality Risk in the Elderly Population Aged 60 Years and Older in Shanghai Communities [J]. Chinese Medical Journal, 2025, 105(14): 1068-1074.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20250115-00128\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDang Shiying, Shi Yaru, Gao Mingkang, et al. Research Progress on the Association Between Sleep Disorders and Stroke in Young Adults [J]. Chinese Journal of Physician Training, 2025, 48(07): 666-670.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn115455-20241113-00992\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiu Min, Yiruhan, Han Ziliang, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Patients with Anxiety and Depression Symptoms [J]. Chinese Journal of Psychiatry, 2025, 58(08): 630-638.DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20250307-00106\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLuo Xin, Li Jingru, Lu Jingfang, et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Patients with Chronic Insomnia Disorder Complicated by Anxiety/Depression [J]. Chinese Journal of Psychiatry, 2025, 58(03): 202-210.DOI::10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20241112-00375\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang Yanru, Cheng Xinchun, Liu Hui, et al. Analysis of Characteristics of Geriatric Syndromes in Hospitalized Elderly Patients Aged 85 and Above [J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics Research (Electronic Edition), 2019, 6(3): 24-28.DOI:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-8757.2019.03.007\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"european-geriatric-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"EGEM","sideBox":"Learn more about [European Geriatric Medicine](https://www.springer.com/journal/41999)","snPcode":"41999","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/egem/default2.aspx","title":"European Geriatric Medicine","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"The elderly people, Anxiety, Comprehensive geriatric assessment, Geriatric syndromes","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurpose\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo investigate the correlation between anxiety in the elderly and common geriatric syndromes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethod\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis retrospective study enrolled 210 patients hospitalized in the Geriatrics Department of Huzhou First People's Hospital between December 2023 and November 2025 who underwent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment(CGA).Based on Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores, patients were divided into an anxiety group (86 cases) and a non-anxiety group (124 cases).Collected all patients' general information and geriatric assessment results, including age, educational attainment, SPPB score, sarcopenia status, insomnia status, urinary incontinence status, and constipation status. Analyzed differences in each indicator between the two groups and used binary logistic regression to identify risk factors for anxiety in older adults.Analysed the predictive value of various risk factors for anxiety in the elderly through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResult\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prevalence of anxiety among hospitalised elderly individuals was 40.95%. Significant statistical differences (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt;0.05) were observed between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group regarding variables such as educational attainment, sleep disturbances, and constipation.Results from binary logistic regression analysis indicate that advanced age (OR=0.938, 95% CI 0.888–0.991), sleep disturbance (OR=0.259, 95% CI 0.121–0.557), and constipation (OR=0.288, 95% CI 0.139–0.595) were risk factors for the occurrence of anxiety symptoms in hospitalised elderly individuals (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prevalence of anxiety among the elderly is relatively high. Advanced age, sleep disorders, and constipation constitute risk factors for anxiety in older adults.For common geriatric syndromes, early detection and early intervention are essential.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Correlation Analysis Between Anxiety in Older Adults and Common Geriatric Syndromes","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-17 11:27:29","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8796965/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-03-02T06:49:11+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-11T11:33:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-10T14:31:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"European Geriatric Medicine","date":"2026-02-07T01:34:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"european-geriatric-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"EGEM","sideBox":"Learn more about [European Geriatric Medicine](https://www.springer.com/journal/41999)","snPcode":"41999","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/egem/default2.aspx","title":"European Geriatric Medicine","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"44335be9-75f7-412a-8472-1153e0e9fcbb","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 17th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-17T11:27:29+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-17 11:27:29","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8796965","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8796965","identity":"rs-8796965","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}