A cross sectional study on prevalence and factors influencing anxiety and depression among patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Numerous study findings documented higher risk of depression and anxiety that diabetic population. Anxiety and depression in turn are proven to have strong negative influence on glycemic control, complications and quality of life in diabetic patients. Major portion of evidence linking DM, depression and anxiety comes from developed countries, and there is scarcity of research in this regard in developing and low-income countries. Aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety and factors associated with them in type II diabetes mellitus patients.Methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study, conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The study included 135 sequentially recruited type II diabetic patients. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) were used to assess the severity of depression/anxiety.Results: A total of 135 participants were included in the study. More than half (59.3%) of the study subjects have reported history of perceived stress. The proportions of subjects, reporting either anxiety or depression were 64.4%. Depression alone was present in 60.7% of the subjects and anxiety alone was present in 44.4% of the subjects. New onset of diabetes mellitus (Odds ratio 3.51, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.38), presence of diabetic neuropathy (Odds ratio 1.64, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.57), presence of diabetic retinopathy (Odds ratio 2.70, 95% CI 1.63 to 6.78) and history of perceived stress (Odds ratio 40.32, 95% CI 10.95 to 148.32), were associated with anxiety and depression.Conclusions: Prevalence of depression and anxiety was very high in diabetic population; hence evaluation and management should be part of routine care. Special focus should be given to patients with new onset diabetes, suffering from neuropathy or nephropathy and patients with history of stressors.