Prevalence of anxiety and depression among diabetic African patients in Guinea: Association with HbA1c levels

Aim. - The prevalence and risk factors associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression were determined in African people with diabetes. Methods. - This cross-sectional study involved 491 outpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) recruited from four diabetes clinics (Conakry, Labe, Boke and Kankan) in Guinea. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Logistic regression analysis stratified by gender was performed to identify the associated risk factors. Results. - Anxiety and depression symptoms were present in 58.7% and 34.4%, respectively, of the 491 patients with T2D (62.7% women, mean +/- SD age: 57.9 +/- 10.2 years). Odds ratios (95% CI) of risk factors independently associated with anxiety were urban residence [2.98 (1.81-4.89)] in women, and low socioeconomic status [0.19 (0.05-0.70)] and HbA(1c) >= 9.0% [2.61 (1.0-6.39)] in men. Factors associated with depression were urban residence [2.13 (1.27-3.58)], older age [1.03 (1.01-1.06)], low socioeconomic status [2.21 (1.34-3.66)] and no previous measurement of HbA(1c) [12.45 (1.54-100.34)] in women, and insulin therapy [2.28 (1.05-4.92)] and HbA(1c) >= 9.0% [3.85 (1.02-14.48)] in men. Conclusion. - Anxiety and depression symptoms in people with type T2D are common in Guinea. Urban residence, low socioeconomic status and high levels of HbA(1c) were significantly associated with a greater risk of anxiety and depression, highlighting the psychological burden related to diabetes in Africa. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.