PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DIABETES- A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Kushal Markenday, Dr. Minakshi Dhar*, Dr. Ravi Gupta, Dr. Sohaib Ahmad, Dr. Nowneet K Bhat
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Depression is a well established common co-morbidity among people with diabetes. Literature that has examined the prevalence and correlates of depression among elderly diabetics is limited. We compare the prevalence of depression between elderly diabetics and non-diabetics and identify correlates of depression. Methods: 50 cases of elderly diabetics were selected randomly IPD/OPD of department of Medicine. Age and sex matched 50 elderly non diabetic were randomly selected from the community. All subjects belonged to Sub Himalayan region. Demographic characteristics including age, sex, body mass index, food habits, life style were recorded on a self designed performa. Geriatric Depression Scale was administered to both the groups. A cut off score of 9 was used to rule out depression. Subjects who had scores between10-19 were categorized as having mild depression and severe depression was diagnosed when subjects scored between 20-30. Results: Age was comparable between both groups (66.6±5.5 years in cases and 68.7±7.1years in controls: t= 1.65: p= 0.105). Proportion of females was comparable (22% in cases versus 12% in controls; X2 = 1.7; p =0.18). Prevalence of depression was higher in the diabetes group (70% in diabetics versus 4% in control group: X2=0.0001: p=0.001). On the multiple logistic regression, female gender (OR=22.01; p=0.022), dietary habits (OR=9.14; p=0.011) and repeated hospitalization (OR=5.05; p=0.006) were significantly associated with depression in diabetic elderly patients. Conclusion: Depression has negative effects on diabetes outcomes. So for optimum management of diabetes, identification and treatment of depression in the primary care setting would result in appreciable alleviation of suffering in those with diabetes and depression.
Keywords: Diabetes, Depression, Geriatric Depression Scale.
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