The intriguing link between excessive concern about health and an early outcome comes to light in a recent study carried out in Sweden.
Those suffering from anxiety and illness disorder (IAD) have been found to have a shorter life expectancy, challenging conventional notions about mental health and mortality.
How does anxiety disorder affect longevity?
Professor Esteban Hughes of Anglia Ruskin University explores this apparent contradiction in his article published in The Conversation.
Hughes highlights that the stigma associated with hypochondriasis, now redefined as IAD, needs to be overcome by medical professionals, emphasizing the need for more empathetic, non-derogatory care.
The Swedish study followed around 42,000 individuals, revealing an alarming finding: those with IAD had a significantly elevated risk of death, dying on average five years younger than their less worried peers.
This disparity in life expectancy is reflected in both deaths from natural and unnatural causes, triggering a debate about the reasons behind this phenomenon.
Swedish research reveals that people concerned about their health, but without apparent illnesses, have a higher risk of death – Image: Shutterstock/Reproduction
The results revealed that the natural causes of death among those affected by IAD were mainly related to cardiovascular and respiratory complications, surprisingly not demonstrating an increase in mortality from cancer, despite widespread anxiety regarding this disease in the studied population.
Hughes clarifies that the close link between IAD and psychiatric disorders may explain the increased risk of suicide.
The feeling of stigmatization and devaluation faced by those living with IAD can worsen anxiety and depression, leading, in some cases, to tragic outcomes.
Furthermore, the lifestyle associated with anxiety – with a greater propensity to use alcohol, tobacco and drugs – can contribute to early mortality.
These harmful habits have been linked to reduced longevity, further compounding the challenges faced by people with IAD.
In light of these findings, Hughes calls on healthcare professionals to adopt a more attentive and stigma-free approach, listening carefully to patients and seeking to understand underlying health problems.
Understanding the genetic and environmental factors that fuel IAD may be crucial to offering more effective and comprehensive support to this vulnerable portion of the population.
