The relationship between depression and demographic risk factors, individual lifestyle factors, and health complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). We examined the relationship between depression and demographic and anthropometric characteristics, poor glycemic control, and duration of diabetes. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between depression, lifestyle factors, and health complications. Study participants included 154 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus between 18 to 65 years of age. Data regarding patients- demographic characteristics, medications, body mass index, blood pressure, lifestyle factors, health complications, and Hemoglobin A1c levels were documented. The SCID-I scale (the structured clinical interview for DSM IV, Axis I disorders) was administered to all the participants by a psychiatrist to evaluate the prevalence of depression. The study included a total of 154 patients with type 2 DM, of whom 82 (53.2%) were female and 72 (46.8%) were male. Patients-ages ranged from 33-65 years with a mean age of 54.8 +/- 9.1 years. 18.2% (24 patients) of the patients suffered from depression. The results revealed a significant relationship between depression and gender, duration of disease, hypertension, and poor glycemic control (p<0.05). 64.2% of all patients had hypertension, 38.3% had nephropathy, 35% had neuropathy, 27.9% had retinopathy, 1.3% had cerebrovascular disease and 24% had cardiovascular diseases. In terms of the relationship between depression and health complications, there was a significant association between poor glycemic control and nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular diseases (p<0.05). The relationship between depression and dietary compliance, regular physical exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and drug compliance was also found to be significant (p<0.05). The study demonstrated the relationship between depression and various factors in patients with type 2 DM. Hence, a multidisciplinary approach can help improve patients- quality of life, reduce treatment costs, and reduce delays and wastage of time for both the treatment team and patients.