Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic metabolic disorder in Nepal.Stressful living conditions and chronic illnesses make Nepalese people psychologically vulnerable. In a meta-analysis review the prevalence of major depression in people with diabetes was 11%.Limited studies have investigated the prevalence of depression in Nepalese population with diabetes.
Objective: To identify the prevalence of depression among Nepalese patients with type 2 diabetes and to examine the relationship between depression and socio-demographic factors, clinical factors and glycemic level.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted at Kathmandu Diabetes and Thyroid Center Pvt Ltd, Nepal. Hundred thirty patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes without prior history of depression were enrolled in the study. The translated Nepali version of Beck Depression Inventary (Ι a) was used to identify prevalence of depression. Data was analyzed with SPSS 16.
Results: The proportion of respondents with depression was 29.2%. Using chi-square test, the result showed significant association of gender (p=0.010), occupation (p=0.057) and complications of diabetes (p=0.001) with depression (Table).
Conclusion: Among the respondents, 29.2% were potential cases of depression. Psychological assessment should be included as a routine clinical evaluation for patients with diabetes.
| Total (n) | Depressed | Not depressed | p- value | |||
| Age <55 yrs >55 yrs | 62 68 | 29.03% (n 18) 29.41%(n 20) | 70.96% (n 44) 70.58% (n 48) | 0.962 | ||
| Gender Male Female | 64 66 | 18.75% (n 12) 39.39% (n 26) | 81.25% (n 52) 60.60% (n 40) | 0.010 | ||
| Marital status Married Unmarried | 120 10 | 27.5%(n 33) 20% (n 5) | 72.5% (n 87) 50% (n 5) | 0.133 | ||
| Family type Nuclear Joint | 74 56 | 27.02% (n 20) 32.14% (n 18) | 72.97% (n 54) 67.85% (n 38) | 0.525 | ||
| Duration of illness < 5 years >5 years | 60 70 | 26.67% (n 16) 31.43% (n 22) | 73.33% (n 44) 68.57% (n 48) | 0.552 | ||
| Complication of Diabetes Present Absent | 45 85 | 46.66% (n 21) 20% (n 17) | 53.33% (n 24) 80% (n 68) | 0.001 | ||
| Fasting glucose level 80-110 mg/dL >110 mg/dL | 50 80 | 24% (n 12) 32.5% (n 26) | 76% (n 38) 67.5% (n 54) | 0.300 | ||
| Total (n) | Depressed | Not depressed | p- value | |||
| Age <55 yrs >55 yrs | 62 68 | 29.03% (n 18) 29.41%(n 20) | 70.96% (n 44) 70.58% (n 48) | 0.962 | ||
| Gender Male Female | 64 66 | 18.75% (n 12) 39.39% (n 26) | 81.25% (n 52) 60.60% (n 40) | 0.010 | ||
| Marital status Married Unmarried | 120 10 | 27.5%(n 33) 20% (n 5) | 72.5% (n 87) 50% (n 5) | 0.133 | ||
| Family type Nuclear Joint | 74 56 | 27.02% (n 20) 32.14% (n 18) | 72.97% (n 54) 67.85% (n 38) | 0.525 | ||
| Duration of illness < 5 years >5 years | 60 70 | 26.67% (n 16) 31.43% (n 22) | 73.33% (n 44) 68.57% (n 48) | 0.552 | ||
| Complication of Diabetes Present Absent | 45 85 | 46.66% (n 21) 20% (n 17) | 53.33% (n 24) 80% (n 68) | 0.001 | ||
| Fasting glucose level 80-110 mg/dL >110 mg/dL | 50 80 | 24% (n 12) 32.5% (n 26) | 76% (n 38) 67.5% (n 54) | 0.300 | ||
P. Yonzon: None. A. Joshi: None. M. Ghimire: None.
