A cross-sectional study to evaluate the correlation of depression and anxiety symptoms to glycemic control in recent onset type II diabetes mellitus- research from south India

Abstract

Introduction: A bidirectional relationship between depression and diabetes is well established. WHO predicts India will lead in the number of persons with diabetes by 2030. Therefore, factors that can alter the glycemic control (evaluated by glycated hemoglobin levels-HbA1c) needs to be targeted to promote health in diabetes, hence the need for this study. Objectives: To assess the correlation of depression and anxiety with HbA1c in recent-onset Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient of an urban tertiary care hospital on 94 consenting patients with an established diagnosis of Type2DM for >1year and Results: In this sample HADS found 43% (n=40) with anxiety and 33% (n=31) with depressive symptoms. 80% (n=75) sample had abnormal HbA1c (>7) (mean=8.53±1.68). A trend towards positive correlation was noted between HbA1c and total depressive (r=0.1194/p=0.2518) and anxiety (r=0.0006/p= 0.9953) symptoms, however, not statistically significant. 26 of these individuals qualified for the syndromal diagnosis of anxiety spectrum and depression on MINI plus. No correlation found with Obesity and HADS. Conclusion: In this study in patients with recent onset diabetes, no correlation was found between HbA1c levels and depressive or anxiety symptoms. However, it was noted that subclinical symptoms of anxiety and depression were more common than the syndromal diagnosis. Keywords: Depression, Glycemic control, Anxiety, South India.