Clinical and laboratory factors associated with depression among patients with Type 2 diabetes at a primary care centre in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Depression is increasing worldwide and it has been found to be an under-diagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus especially in primary  care settings. There were estimated 425 million patients with diabetes in 2018 according to the International Diabetes Federation and this is projected to increase to 926 million by 2040 and many of those affected reside in developing countries. Previous studies have also associated diabetes  with several co-morbid conditions such as depression, obesity and hypertension.

Aim: This was to determine the prevalence and severity of depression, the relationship between depression and glycemic control as well as the clinical  factors among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the Family Medicine Clinics at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).  

Methods: It was a cross-sectional design using a face to face interview. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to obtain information.  The Patient Health Questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence and severity of depression among the participants. Glycated haemoglobin, body  mass index and blood pressure of the participants were obtained. Data was collated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Chi- square tests were performed to compare associations between categorical variables.

Results: The prevalence of depression was 27%. Moderate  depression (58.7%) was the most common form. 55.8% of the respondents had good  glycaemic control, however, there was no statistically significant  association between depression with glycaemic control (p value = 0.256) and  hypertension( p value = 0.732 ) but there was significant relationship with  Body mass index ( p value 0.002).

Conclusion: Depression is common among patients living with type 2 diabetes therefore, physicians at the primary care  level should routinely screen type 2 diabetic patients for depression and emphasize on optimum weight control in order to prevent depression.