[Association between depressive symptoms and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study].

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes mellitus show a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms when compared to healthy people, hampering the management and prognosis of both diseases. However, national studies on the topic are scarce.

AIM

To study the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Beck Depression Inventory-IA and Morisky Green Levine scale were administered to diabetic patients under control at a primary care center. Pharmacological compliance was evaluated using glycosylated hemoglobin levels obtained from their clinical records.

RESULTS

We included 323 patients aged 64 ± 12 years (49% women). The frequency of depressive symptoms was 34.7%. Compared with their counterparts without depressive symptoms, patients with depression showed higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (7.2 ± 1.7 and 6.7 ± 1.3% respectively), a higher frequency of non-compliance with treatment (63 and 43% respectively) and a higher frequency of metabolic decompensation (38 and 23% respectively). Depressive symptomatology was more common among women.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and depressive symptoms exhibit a poorer treatment compliance and worse metabolic control as compared to their non-depressive counterparts.