Risk of depression among Bangladeshi type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the strength and consistency of the relationship between depression and diabetes in Bangladeshi population.

METHODS: The study was conducted at the medicine department of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) during May 2012 to May 2013. Equal number of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and non-diabetic subjects (patient attendants) were recruited from outpatient department matching for age (±2 years) and gender. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected from all the subjects. Depression was assessed using, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. A subject with a score above 8 was considered as depressive. Baseline characteristics of diabetic and non-diabetic participants were compared using chi square test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between diabetes and depression adjusting for all plausible confounders in the model.

RESULTS: 24.8% non-diabetic and 56.2% diabetic subjects were found to have depression. Statistically significant difference was found in income, waist-to-hip ratio between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects (P<0.001). Diabetic patients show 7-fold greater odds of having depression in comparison to their non-diabetic counterpart [OR 7.0, 95% CI (3.4, 14.3)]. Female gender appeared as significant predictor of depression [OR 4.3, 95% CI (2.1, 8.9)].

CONCLUSIONS: In Bangladeshi population, people with diabetes are 7 times more likely to have co-existing depression in comparison to non-diabetic subjects. Further studies are required to establish the nature of the relationship between depression and T2DM.