Lifestyle and Care Indicators in Individuals with Major, Minor and No Depression: A Community-Based Diabetes Study in Quebec

Objective: To investigate the association between depression status (major, minor, no depression) and lifestyle and care indicators in adults with diabetes in Quebec. METHODS: A random-digit-dial telephone survey was conducted. Depression status was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Self-reported lifestyle and care indicators, along with perceptions related to these indicators, were measured. Logistic regression was used to assess the independent associations between depression status and lifestyle/care/perception indicators. RESULTS: Among the 2003 respondents, 8.7 and 10.9% had major and minor depression, respectively. Of those with major depression, 53.4% had 2 or 3 unhealthy lifestyle indicators (smoking, inactivity, obesity), compared with 33% of those who had minor depression and 21% of those who had no depression. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that subjects with depression were more likely to be female, less educated, not married, inactive, smokers and to perceive their diabetes control to be poor (p < 0.05). Depression was not associated with obesity, but was associated with the perception of not being able to control the amount of food eaten (p < 0.05). Depression was also associated with more frequent blood glucose testing (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Management of diabetes for individuals with depression should not focus solely on lifestyle or care indicators; it should also take perception indicators into account.