Depressive Symptoms among Patients with Diabetes in Qatar: Frequency and Potential Determinants

Background: Diabetes is a highly prevalent chronic disease that is associated with major complications. Findings regarding risk of depression among patients with diabetes are controversial. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms among Qatari patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on Qatar Biobank (QBB) data of 2448 Qatari adults with diabetes aged 21–60 years old. Data regarding age, gender, education, income, body mass index (BMI), medication use, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were retrieved. Patients’ responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were also obtained. Data analyses was performed using STATA 16, and statistical significance was considered at a p-value of <0.05. Results: Of the 2448 participants, 15.4% (n = 378) had self-reported depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were frequent among females (69.6%), smokers (15.9%), and participants with a higher level of education (47.1%). Average age of participants who reported depressive symptoms was significantly less that among participants without depressive symptoms (44.8 vs. 52.9 years). Qatari women with diabetes seem to be at higher risk of depression when compared to men (OR = 1.819, 95% CI: 1.42–2.33); The odds of reporting depressive symptoms were 35% higher among patients with more advanced educational qualifications (OR = 1.351, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.82). Smokers were twice as likely to report depressive symptoms as their non-smoking counterparts. There was no significant relationship between depression and poor glycemic control, physical activity, BMI, or insulin use. Conclusions: In summary, the study results suggest that several sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, and level of education were associated with the risk of depressive symptoms among Qataris with diabetes.