ObjectiveDepression is associated with poor glycemic control and complications in people with type 2 diabetes. We assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and antidepressant medication use among elderly with and without type 2 diabetes and the association between depression and diabetes complications. Research design and methodsIn 2004–2006, the Primary Health Care research in Type 2 Diabetes Study applied the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to 458 participants with type 2 diabetes (47% male, aged 65±8.9years, type 2 diabetes duration 19±8.7years) and 546 participants without diabetes (non diabetic group) (51% male, aged 59±8.7years). Use of antidepressant medication was self-reported. Depressive disorder was defined as a BDI-II score >14 and/or use of antidepressant medication. Occurrence of diabetes complications (retinopathy, blindness, neuropathy, diabetes-related amputation, and kidney or pancreas transplantation) was self-reported. ResultsMean BDI-II score, adjusted for age and sex, was significantly higher in participants with type 2 diabetes than in non diabetic participants (least-squares mean±SE: 7.4±0.3 vs. 5.0±0.3; P<0.0001). The prevalence of depressive disorder (as defined by BDI-II>14 and/or antidepressant use) in participants with type 2 diabetes was significantly higher than that of age- and sex-adjusted non diabetic participants (32.1 vs. 16.0%, P<0.0001). Type 2 diabetic participants reported using more antidepressant medications (20.7 vs. 12.1%, P=0.0003). More type 2 diabetic than non diabetic participants were classified as depressed by BDI-II cut score (17.5 vs. 5.7%, P<0.0001) or by either BDI-II cut score or antidepressant use (32.1 vs. 16.0%, P<0.0001). Participants reporting diabetes complications (n=209) had higher mean BDI-II scores than those without complications (10.7±9.3 vs. 6.4±6.3, P<0.0001). ConclusionsDepression is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes and requires further study on assessment and treatment.