Addiction to Smartphone Use in Smokers Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in Jordan: Are Their Medications Involved?

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and smoking is increasing in developing countries and is associated with deteriorated health outcomes. Also, addiction to smartphone use is an alarming behavior that can be associated with clinical factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of smartphone addiction in smokers with T2DM in Jordan, with a particular focus on the role of medications.

This cross-sectional study recruited patients from Prince Hamza Hospital, Jordan, according to pre-defined criteria. Besides demographics and clinical information, this study used the validated Arabic version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale to assess addiction to smartphones and a multivariable regression analysis to identify the correlates of smartphone addiction.

Data analyzed from 346 patients revealed that 117 (33.8%) of these participants reported addiction to smartphones. Patients who had been diagnosed with T2DM for less than five years (aOR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.43-7.60), who were "employed" (aOR = 8.85; 95% CI = 2.20-35.64), and who were "retired" (aOR = 11.46; 95% CI = 2.72-48.23) all reported a significantly (p < 0.05) higher odds of smartphone addiction. In contrast, patients on "sulfonylurea" (aOR = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.06-0.53); "metformin" (aOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06-0.66), and "gabapentin" (aOR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.04-0.67) and those with "comorbid hypertension" (aOR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.06-0.38) had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower odds of smartphone addiction.

These alarming results require adequate action from the health authorities to raise awareness of adopting positive behaviors that could improve the well-being of this high-risk population.