Context: Type 2 diabetes mellitus doubles the odds of suffering from depressive illness. Co-morbid depression is associated with poorer outcomes in diabetes mellitus in terms of glycemic control, medication adherence, quality of life, physical activity, and blood pressure control.
Aim: The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression among a consecutive group of patients with type 2 diabetes and assess its impact on glycemic and blood pressure control.
Setting: Outpatient department of the endocrinology department of a university affiliated teaching hospital in north India.
Subjects: Consecutive adult patients (18-65 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus of over 5-year duration with no prior history of psychiatric illnesses or intake of anti-depressants.
Materials and methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was used for demographic data, HbA1c was obtained to assess glycemic control, and blood pressure was recorded twice during patient interview to assess blood pressure control. Depression was assessed with the Major Depression Inventory and scores obtained were classified as consistent with mild, moderate and severe depression. Data was analyzed with SPSS v16, and multiple logistical regression test was done to compare the effect of depression on glycemic control after adjusting for age and sex.
Results: Of the 80 patients interviewed, 31 (38.8%) had depressive symptoms. Among them 20 (25%) had mild depression, 10 (12.5%) had moderate depression, and 1 (1.3%) had severe depression.
Conclusions: Over one third of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of over 5-year duration had depressive symptoms. The presence of depressive symptoms was associated with a significant worsening of glycemic control.
Keywords: Depression; HbA1c; glycemic control; type 2 diabetes mellitus.