Depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that primarily affects older adults. Owing to longterm consequences, such as complications of the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart, and blood vessels, DM constitutes a major public health problem. 1,2 The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. According to the International Diabetes Federation's 2021 Diabetes Atlas, 537 million adults aged between 20 and 79 years are living with diabetes. In Brazil, estimates show that up to 16.8 million people have DM, which is approximately 7% of the population. 1 Moreover, the presence of depressive symptoms deserves equal attention because of its increasing prevalence among community-dwelling older adults, ranging from 13% to 39%. 3 The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, exceeded 88% of older adults, and was mostly correlated with chronic diseases. 4 Conversely, there are high rates of depression underdiagnosis in older adults, which can increase the development of other risk factors in this population. [5][6][7] Several studies have suggested an association between diabetes and depression. There are various predictors of depression among older adults with DM, such as socioeconomic, individual, behavioral, and clinical factors. 8 Depression has been reported as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. 9,10 Meanwhile, depression is reportedly two times more prevalent in people with DM than in people who do not have diabetes. [11][12][13] Depression has also been linked to family dysfunction and poor health outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. 12,[14][15][16] Nonetheless, depression and diabetes represent the fourth and eighth most important causes of disability-adjusted life years, respectively. 17 Moreover, this relationship predicts increased morbidity and mortality rates, non-adherence to treatment, low quality of life, and an immense public health impact. 11,12,[18][19][20]

Depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older people in China and associations with chronic diseases

“…In addition, our findings also indicate that middle-aged and older people with hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis who also suffer from depressive symptoms are at a higher risk of mortality. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the association between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and immune system disorders (113)(114)(115)(116). These crosssectional studies have indicated that depressive symptoms exacerbate the condition of chronic diseases.…”