Correlates of anxiety and depression among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

CONTEXT: Research has established the relation between diabetes and depression. Both diabetes and anxiety/depression are independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality. AIMS: The present study aims at assessing the prevalence of anxiety/depression among outpatients receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was conducted in the endocrinology outpatient department of an urban tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The instruments used included a semi-structured questionnaire, HbA1c levels, fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose, Brief Patient Health Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 16.0. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to find out the correlations. ANOVA was carried out for the in between group comparisons. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the HADS-Anxiety scale and Body Mass Index (BMI) with a correlation coefficient of 0.34 (P = 0.008). Also, a significant correlation existed between HADS-Depression scale and BMI (correlation coefficient, 0.36; P = 0.004). Significant correlation were observed between the duration of daily physical exercise and HADS-Anxiety (coefficient of correlation, -0.25; P = 0.04) scores. HADS-Anxiety scores were found to be related to HbA1c levels (correlation-coefficient, 0.41; P = 0.03) and postprandial blood glucose levels (correlation-coefficient, 0.51; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of biochemical parameters like HbA1c and postprandial blood glucose levels and BMI could be a guide to development of anxiety in these patients. Also, physical exercise seems to have a protective effect on anxiety in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus.