A community‐based cross‐sectional study of anxiety and metabolic syndrome

Background The prevalence of anxiety and other psychological disorders has increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic, especially among the elderly. Anxiety and metabolic syndrome (MetS) may aggravate each other. This study further clarified the correlation between the two. Methods Adopting a convenience sampling method, this study investigated 162 elderly people over 65 years of age in Fangzhuang Community, Beijing. All participants provided baseline data on sex, age, lifestyle, and health status. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) was used to assess anxiety. Blood samples, abdominal circumference, and blood pressure were used to diagnose MetS. The elderly were divided into MetS and control groups according to the diagnosis of MetS. Differences in anxiety between the two groups were analysed and further stratified by age and gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the possible risk factors for MetS. Results Compared with the control group, anxiety scores of the MetS group were statistically higher (Z = 4.78, P