Diabetes distress and associated psychosocial factors in type 2 diabetes. A population-based cross-sectional study....

The world-wide prevalence of diabetes distress varies, and studies are mainly undertaken in clinical settings. By using data from the Trøndelag Health (HUNT) study, we aimed to estimate diabetes distress prevalence, its determinants, and associations with anxiety and depression among adults with type 2 diabetes.

This population-based cross-sectional study consists of individuals ≥ 20 years with type 2 diabetes participating in the HUNT4 survey (2017-2019). Diabetes-distress prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated based on the five item Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID-5) questionnaire. PAID-5 sum scores were rescaled to a 0-100 scale by multiplying the sum score by five. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations of demographic, lifestyle- and clinical factors, with diabetes distress.

In total, 1954 individuals completed the PAID-5 questionnaire, with a mean score of 15.2 (SD 18.3) and 11.9% (95% CI 10.6-13.4) reporting high diabetes distress (PAID-5 ≥ 40). Multivariable linear regression showed that diabetes distress was associated with a 0.2 (95% CI 0.2-0.3) lower score for each year older age, 7.6 (95% CI 5.4-9.7) higher score for current insulin use, and 9.3 (95% CI 5.3-13.2) higher score for a history of diabetes foot ulcers. High levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were associated with higher diabetes distress (Anxiety: B 16.0, 95% CI 13.6-18.4, Depression: B 13.3, 95% CI 10.7-16.0).

Diabetes distress is common and strongly associated with younger age at diabetes onset, insulin use, foot ulcer, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Identifying and addressing diabetes distress in diabetes follow-up may facilitate improving health outcomes and prevent more serious mental health issues in individuals with T2D. Nevertheless, the findings should be further examined in longitudinal studies.