Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is exceedingly widespread disease with the highest prevalence in the Middle East countries. Co-existing psychological symptoms affect glycemic control and considered as an important problem in achieving target. The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of depressive and anxiety symptoms among diabetes patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 300 adult patients with type 2 diabetes who attended Primary Health Care centers in Erbil City during the period from the 1st of July 2016 to the end of 28th of June 2017. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 questionnaires has been used as diagnostic tools for depression and anxiety. The glycemic control measured using glycated hemoglobin A1C.
Results: The mean age SD of the sample was 54.79 9.16 years, ranging from 40 to 75 years, the median was 54 years and considerable proportion (44.7%) were of low socio-economic status (SES). Only one quarter of the patients are highly adherent to the treatment. 52.3% of the patients were complaining from anxiety whether mild (28%), moderate (23.3%) or severe (1%). Regarding depression, 58.7% had had depression of different severity. No significant association was detected between anxiety and depression with diabetes control as assessed by glycated hemoglobin A1C (p = 0.932) and (p = 0.220) respectively. The prevalence of depression among those who follow a healthy diet (53.6%) and who practice physical activity (41.4%) was significantly less (p = 0.024).
Conclusion: The study revealed that large percentage of type 2 diabetic patients suffered from anxiety and or depressive symptoms, a results should alert all physicians working in primary health centers to consider these symptoms since they have a direct impact in improving treatment
http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjps.23.2018.162
Significance of proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients treated at a primary health care center in Abha city, Saudi Arabia
