Depression in people with type 2 diabetes puts them at greater risk of complications, study finds
Personalised treatment should be introduced for people with type 2 diabetes and depression to improve their outcomes, the authors of a new study have recommended.
Researchers in Italy and Canada examined the predictors of depression in those with type 2 diabetes and looked at how much depression is a risk factor for diabetes complications and death.
Led by Paolo Di Bartolo from the Diabetes Unit at AUSL Romagna in Italy, the team looked at more than 30,000 people with type 2 diabetes with no prior history of depression, over the period 2008 to 2017. At follow up in 2020, they found that just over 5,000 people – 16.7 per cent – developed depression.
The predictors of depression were found to be those who were female, older than 65, living in a rural area and with comorbid diseases.
The study authors said: “Depression in type 2 diabetes was associated with a 2.3-fold risk of developing acute complications, 1.6-fold risk of developing long-term complications and 2.8-fold mortality risk.
“Our findings highlight that depression is associated with an increased risk for complications in type 2 diabetes and mortality and should not be neglected. Therefore, it is important to promote screening activities and introduce targeted and personalized treatment for depression in order to reduce the risk of poor short- and long-term outcomes of diabetes.”