DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND GLYCAEMIC CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KOLKATA

Abstract

Background: Depression is a common psychological comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may adversely affect diabetes self-management and glycaemic control. This study assessed the occurrence of depressive symptoms among patients with T2DM and evaluated their association with glycaemic control and selected demographic and clinical factors. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 178 patients with T2DM attending the Diabetic Clinic of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal. Patients aged >18 years with T2DM for at least one year and receiving pharmacological treatment were included. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Glycaemic control was assessed using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), with HbA1c <7% considered good control and HbA1c ≥7% considered poor control. Associations were assessed using the chi-square test, followed by multivariable logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 43.5 ± 8.58 years, and 62.4% were male. Depressive symptoms were present in 63 (35.4%) participants; 48 (27.0%) had mild and 15 (8.4%) had moderate depression. Depression was significantly associated with gender (p<0.001), residence (p=0.003), religion (p=0.043), presence of comorbidities (p=0.039), duration of T2DM (p=0.027), and glycaemic control (p=0.047). Depression was present in 61.2% of participants with poor glycaemic control compared with 19.8% of those with good control. On multivariable analysis, male gender (AOR 2.227; 95% CI: 1.593–3.297; p=0.030), diabetes duration >10 years (AOR 4.870; 95% CI: 3.167–9.621; p=0.003), and poor glycaemic control (AOR 9.137; 95% CI: 5.663–17.528; p<0.001) remained significantly associated with depression. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were common among patients with T2DM and showed a strong association with poor glycaemic control and longer duration of diabetes. Routine recognition of depressive symptoms alongside metabolic assessment may help identify patients requiring additional psychological support. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between depression and glycaemic control.