A Cross-Sectional Study to Determine the Prevalence and Predictors of Depression and Anxiety in Type 2 Diabetes Patients in South India

Abstract

Diabetic patients with depression or anxiety are more likely to develop diabetic complications and have a lower quality of life. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among type 2 diabetic patients and to identify the associated factors. A cross-sectional, observational study of type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients, with diabetes-related conditions who attended the hospital from January to April 2023, was conducted by interviewing them using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorders-7 for anxiety. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariant regression were performed for statistical analysis. Out of 450 type 2 diabetic patients, 90% were between ages 30 and 45, 50.2% were male, 60% were living in rural areas, and 76.5% literate; most of them belong to the upper middle class (64%) and they live in joint family (32.7%). Depression and anxiety were observed among 65.3% and 62.4% of type 2 diabetic patients, respectively. When observing the severity, 47.8% of patients had mild depression, and 38.7% had minimal anxiety. Age group, socioeconomic status, treatment type, and years of diabetes were found to be factors associated with depression and family type is associated with anxiety. Hospitalized diabetics have higher depression and anxiety rates for multiple reasons. Therefore, diabetes management programmes should include regular depression and anxiety screenings to quickly identify and treat high-risk patients in healthcare facilities.