[The association between diabetes complications and symptoms of depression and anxiety]

The bidirectional relationship between diabetes and depression results in severe disease burden. Co-occurring depression is associated with a higher rate of diabetes complications. These complications impair quality of life, however, their impact on depressive symptoms is controversial.

In our cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate whether the presence of diabetes complications is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice.

We obtained patient history, anthropometric, socioeconomic, laboratory parameters. For symptom assessment, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) were used. We collected data between September 2018 and February 2020.

We included 338 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes. The mean age of the sample was 63.98 ± 11.51 (years ± SD), 61.2% of participants were female. We found significant univariate association between diabetes complications and older age, less physical activity, higher body mass index, insulin therapy, higher HbA1c, higher creatinine and carbamide concentrations, worse depressive and anxiety symptoms. In multivariate analysis, diabetes complications and certain socio-demographic factors (female gender, lower education, rural-dwelling) were the determinants of higher BDI and HAM-A scores.

Among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was higher and more severe in patients with diabetes complications. The recommended screening for affective disorders among patients with diabetes is especially justified if complications are present. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(3): 79-87.