Effect of sertraline in patients with newly diagnosed depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypertension: An observational study from south India.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients with either type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or hypertension (HTN) are more prone to develop depression when compared with the general population. Along with comorbid of either T2DM or HTN, treatment of depression may become an even bigger challenge. The present study aimed to observe the effect of sertraline in newly diagnosed depression patients with T2DM or HTN.

METHODS

A prospective, observational study was conducted in the T2DM or HTN patients who were newly diagnosed as depression patients. Parameters such as, glycated hemoglobin (HbA), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score for depression were measured before and after initiating sertraline therapy (50 mg, twice daily). Paired t-test was used to find out the statistical significance.

RESULT

Of the 546 enrolled patients, 291 patients were in T2DM and 255 patients with HTN. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between baseline and 12th week of comparison with respect to HbA, SBP and DBP values. While at the end of treatment, the number of patients suffered from depression in severe state were improved to moderate to a mild state of depression. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in both T2DM and HTN groups when comparing the total score of HAM-D before and after sertraline treatment.

CONCLUSION

Sertraline is effective in the management of newly diagnosed depression among T2DM or HTN patients. However, the results should be confirmed by a double blinded placebo studies.