Clinical variables associated with depression in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: the aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2DM), depression and depressive symptoms and their clinical impact on T2DM. Methods: the authors evaluated 214 outpatients, 105 with diabetes (T2DM group) and 109 non-diabetics (control group), with ages ranging between 50 and 75 years (T2DM group 65.1 +/- 5.6 years, control group 63.4 +/- 5.8 years). Use of antidepressant treatment or score >= 16 on the Beck depression inventory (BDI) was considered depression. Complications of diabetes and total symptom score (TSS) for peripheral neuropathy were reported by patients. Results: diabetes group had a higher frequency of depression (35.2%) compared to controls (21.1%) (p = 0,021), with 2.4 times increased risk of depression. The presence of depressive symptoms was also higher in T2DM group (mean BDI 9.5 +/- 8.8 versus 6.9 +/- 6.2; p = 0.039). Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy were higher in depressed subjects. The metabolic control and presence of complications in T2DM group were not associated with depression. Conclusion: T2DM led to an increased risk of depression, but this did not influence the metabolic control or the presence of other complications.