Abstract
Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases. Substantial evidence demonstrates that depression in the context of diabetes is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences such as reduced adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen, lower quality of life, higher fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, and higher health expenditures.Methods: This study was conducted to assess the depression among T2DM patients attending diabetic clinics, primary healthcare centers (PHC), Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using both Arabic and English version of the Beck Depression Inventory.Results: Out of 1,050 diabetic patients approached, 559 were within our inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in this study (Response rate of 53%). The mainstream of the participants had T2DM for <10 years (393, 70%), were under oral hypoglycemic treatment only (479, 86%), and had good medication adherence (526, 94%). The overall depression prevalence using a cutoff of 16 was 17%. When we assessed the level of depression amongst participants in association with their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, there was a significant difference between age groups (p < 0.00001); gender (p < 0.0001); nationality (p < 0.00001); educational level (p < 0.00001); and employment status (p < 0.0001). The type of clinic in which the T2DM patients were attending (e.g., diabetes mini-clinic vs. General Family Clinic) was also significantly associated with depression (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the intensive service being given in a diabetes mini-clinic compared to routine PHC clinics appears to benefit the psychological aspects of T2DM patients in the UAE population resulting in a lower incidence of depression than commonly seen in a diabetic population. We have identified a need for the establishment of these mini-clinics in each PHC clinics; and the development of campaigns and educational programs, both for health care providers and the public to decrease depression in T2DM patients in this region.
Highlights
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases
Our study shows a higher prevalence of depression in Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) (T2DM) females than males (14.5 vs. 18.5%, p < 0.0001); this is in Depressive symptoms that are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of clinical depression are highly prevalent in the diabetic population and are associated with both poor well-being and poor diabetes self-management [24]
Our results demonstrate that the intensive service being given in diabetes mini-clinics compared to routine primary health care centers (PHC) clinics benefits the psychological aspects of T2DM patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population and is associated with a lower incidence of depressive mental illness
Summary
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases. There are differences and similarities between the diabetesspecialty clinics with respect to diabetes management and outcome underscoring the necessity for a protocol-driven treatment approach in ensuring improved diabetes care and outcome [1]. We have developed diabetes-specialty clinics in UAE and desired to investigate and differences in outcomes of diabetes treatment in these clinics and in the general medical clinic. Global estimates demonstrate an increase in the prevalence of DM from 422 million patients in 2016 to 642 million by the year 2040 [2]. Type 2 DM (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases [2,3,4]. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), more than 35.4 million of people in the Middle East and North Africa region have diabetes and it is predicted that the number will rise to 72.1 million by 2040 [2]
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