Abstract
Background: Type 2 diabetes and depression are common diseases with bidirectional associations. Depression in diabetics leads to poor adherence to diet and medication, poor glycemic control, reduced quality of life, and increased diabetes-related healthcare expenditure. This study aimed at evaluating diabetic patients with depression to improve the quality of care delivered.
Materials and Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult type 2 diabetics at Al-Jemaih Diabetic Center, Dongola, in July-December 2019A standardized pretested questionnaire was used to collect data, and the depression subscale of the Patient Health Questionnaire was used to diagnose depression. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0.
Results: Out of the 407 participants, 282 (69.3%) were females, and more than half were aged between 40 and 59 years. The prevalence of depression among type 2 diabetic patients was 35.6%, ranging from mild (24.3%) to moderate (7.4%), moderately severe (2.2%), and severe depression (1.7%). The risk factors associated with depression in type 2 diabetes were: combining antidiabetic therapy, long duration of diabetes, family history of psychiatric illness, diabetes-related complications, poor glycemic control, and lack of regular exercise.
Conclusion: More than a third of type 2 diabetics have depression. Screening diabetic patients for depression, establishing a psychiatric unit at the diabetic center, and community-based studies are recommended.