Prevalence of Depression and Glucose Abnormality in an Urbanizing Rural Population of Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Depression and glucose abnormality are increasing in Bangladesh including its rural area. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of depression in an urbanizing rural population of Bangladesh with or without glucose abnormality (including diabetes mellitus [DM], and pre-diabetes which combines impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance pre-DM). METHODS: A total of 2,293 subjects aged ≥20 years were investigated. Sociodemographic and anthropometric details, blood pressure, fasting (fasting plasma glucose) and 2 hours after 75 g plasma glucose (2-hour plasma glucose), were studied. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess depression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DM was 7.9% and pre-DM was 8.6%. Prevalence of depression was 15.31% (n=351; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59 to 1.36) with mean depressive score 17.62±3.49. Female were more likely to have depression (17.16%). The 22.35% of male and 29.46% of female with pre-DM and 26.58% male and 36.27% female with DM had depressive symptoms. There was no significant variation in the mean age of different groups (healthy, depressed and with glucose abnormality). Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, occupation, high physical activity, and low body mass index. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was significantly increased in patients with glucose abnormality compared with those without pre-DM (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.76 to 3.51; P<0.000) and DM (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.33 to 4.60; P<0.000). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of depression found alarming in our study area though lesser than previous studies and it is significantly related to glucose abnormality. The study reveals that mental health should get more focused specially along with metabolic diseases.