Mapping multimorbidity from diabetes mellitus and its association with depressive symptoms among older people of India: a cross-sectional study from a nationally representative survey

Background

India is the second major epicenter of diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence after China and predicted to overtake China by 2045. DM is associated with multimorbidity which has tremendous impact on mental health. However, little is known about patterns of morbidities and their associations with depression.

Objective

The purpose of this article is to ascertain multimorbidity in the DM population and to assess the relationship between multimorbidity and depressive symptoms.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the “Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI),” a national representative survey. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between multimorbidity and depressive symptoms. The mean difference of depressive symptoms with multimorbidity was calculated using one-way ANOVA.

Results

The total population included in the study was 8855. Around 72.8% had multimorbidity, out of which 43%, 20.4%, and 9.4% fall under single, double, and triple or more than triple morbidity category, respectively. The odds of having depression in single morbidity (AOR, 1.24), double morbidity (AOR, 1.34), and triple or more morbidity (AOR, 1.51), poor self-rated health (AOR, 1.45), unenrolled in health insurance policy (AOR, 1.21), hospitalized in the past 12 months (AOR, 1.12), and taking insulin injections (AOR, 1.24) were significantly higher. There were significant mean differences in depression with different categories of multimorbidity conditions (F = 19.63, p = 0.000).

Conclusion

Higher rate of multimorbidity among DM patients was recorded. Multimorbidity substantially increases the risk of acquiring depression. Timely identification and appropriate management multimorbidity of diabetes are important for reducing to incidence of depression and better quality of life and functionality.