Factors Associated With Depressive Symptom Severity in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional...

Depressive symptoms are common among older adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may be associated with both physical and psychological factors. However, the combined associations of comorbidity burden, sarcopenia risk, handgrip strength and diabetes distress with depressive symptom severity remain insufficiently examined.

To identify factors associated with depressive symptom scores among older adults with T2DM.

A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted in a diabetes outpatient clinic in central Taiwan. A total of 170 older adults with T2DM were recruited. Measures included the Charlson comorbidity index, the Sarcopenia Functional Questionnaire, handgrip strength testing, the Diabetes Distress Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with depressive symptom scores.

Depressive symptoms were present in 15.9% of participants. Stepwise multiple linear regression identified diabetes distress, high sarcopenia risk, low handgrip strength and comorbidity burden as significant factors associated with depressive symptom scores. The final model explained 69% of the variance in depressive symptom scores. Diabetes distress showed the strongest association (β = 0.71, p < 0.001).

Diabetes distress, high sarcopenia risk, low handgrip strength and comorbidity burden were associated with depressive symptom severity among older adults with T2DM, with diabetes distress showing the strongest association. Routine assessment of diabetes distress, sarcopenia risk, muscle strength and comorbidity burden may help to identify individuals with more severe depressive symptoms and inform timely supportive care.