Prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed depression among U.S. adults with diabetes: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006.

AIMS

Many people with depression may be undiagnosed and thus untreated. We sought to assess the prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed depression among adults with diabetes.

METHODS

Data of U.S. adults from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2006 were analyzed. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of correlates for undiagnosed depression.

RESULTS

The unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalences of undiagnosed depression were 8.7% and 9.2%. About 45% of diabetes patients with depression were undiagnosed. After adjustments for all correlates, female gender (PR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8), poor or fair health (PR, 2.8; 95% CI: 2.1-3.6), lack of social and emotional support (PR, 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8-3.3), life dissatisfaction (PR, 3.5; 95% CI: 2.2-5.5), use of special equipment (PR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8), no leisure-time physical activity (PR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-1.9), and comorbid cardiovascular disease (PR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-1.9) were associated with undiagnosed depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Undiagnosed depression among people with diabetes was common. Because depression is associated with increased risk of diabetes-related complications, early detection of depression is needed in clinical settings.