Depression and diabetes: a potentially lethal combination

The interface of depression and diabetes: treatment considerations

This state-of-the-art review explores the relationship between depression and diabetes, highlighting the two-way influences that make treatment challenging and worsen the outcomes of both conditions. Depression and diabetes often co-occur and share genetic, lifestyle, and psychosocial risk factors. Lifestyle elements such as diet, physical activity, and sleep patterns play a role on the development and management of both conditions, highlighting the need for integrated treatment strategies. The evidence suggests that traditional management strategies focusing on either condition in isolation fall short of addressing the intertwined nature of diabetes and depression. Instead, integrated care models encompassing psychological support and medical management are recommended to improve treatment efficacy and patient adherence. Such models require collaboration across multiple healthcare disciplines, including endocrinology, psychiatry, and primary care, to offer a holistic approach to patient care. This review also identifies significant patient-related barriers to effective management, such as stigma, psychological resistance, and health literacy, which need to be addressed through patient-centered education and support systems. Future directions for research include longitudinal studies in diverse populations to further elucidate causal relationships and the exploration of novel therapeutic targets, as well as the effectiveness of healthcare models aimed at preventing the onset of one condition in individuals diagnosed with the other.

Shared Genetic Liability across Systems of Psychiatric and Physical Illness

Epidemiological literature has shown that there are extensive comorbidity patterns between psychiatric and physical illness. However, our understanding of the multivariate systems of relationships underlying these patterns is poorly understood. Using Genomic SEM and Genomic E-SEM, an extension for genomic exploratory factor analysis that we introduce and validate, we evaluate the extent to which latent genomic factors from eight domains, encompassing 76 physical outcomes across 1.9 million cases, evince genetic overlap with previously identified psychiatric factors. We find that internalizing, neurodevelopmental, and substance use factors are broadly associated with increased genetic risk sharing across all physical illness domains. Conversely, we find that a compulsive factor is protective against circulatory and metabolic illness, whereas genetic risk sharing between physical illness factors and psychotic/thought disorders was limited. Our results reveal pervasive risk sharing between specific groups of psychiatric and physical conditions and call into question the bifurcation of psychiatric and physical conditions.

Association of total bilirubin with depression risk in adults with diabetes: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Individuals with diabetes mellitus are more likely to experience depression, although most patients remain undiagnosed. The relation between total bilirubin and depression has been increasingly discussed, but limited studies have examined the association of total bilirubin with depression risk in adults with diabetes, which warrants attention.

AIM

To investigate the association between total bilirubin levels and the risk of depression in adults with diabetes.

METHODS

The study included adults with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018. Depression was determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable logistic regression, propensity score-matched analysis and restricted cubic spline models were utilized to investigate the association between total bilirubin levels and depression risk in adults with diabetes.

RESULTS

The study included 4758 adults with diabetes, of whom 602 (12.7%) were diagnosed with depression. After adjusting for covariates, we found that diabetic adults with lower total bilirubin levels had a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.230, 95%CI: 1.006-1.503, P = 0.043). This association was further confirmed after propensity score matching (OR = 1.303, 95%CI: 1.034-1.641, P = 0.025). Subgroup analyses showed no significant dependence of age, body mass index, sex, race or hypertension on this association. Restricted cubic spline models displayed an inverted U-shaped association of total bilirubin levels with depression risk within the lower range of total bilirubin levels. The depression risk heightened with the increasing levels of total bilirubin, reaching the highest risk at 6.81 μmol/L and decreasing thereafter.

CONCLUSION

In adults with diabetes, those with lower levels of total bilirubin were more likely to have depressive symptoms. Serum total bilirubin levels may be used as an additional indicator to assess depression risk in adults with diabetes.

Quality of life, stress, anxiety and depression and associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Western region Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), depression, anxiety, and stress, along with associated factors among individuals with diabetes in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was conducted using the DASS-21 questionnaire, while diabetes-related QoL was evaluated using the revised version of the diabetes QoL questionnaire (RV-DQoL13). Data were analyzed using SPSS-26.

Results

A total of 251 subjects were included in the study (165 [65.7%] males and 86 [34.3%] females, mean age 50.1 ± 14.5 years). The individuals with DM had a mean value of QoL of 29.16 ± 9.23, with 46.9% having poor QoL. Furthermore, in dimensions of QoL, almost half of the individuals reported high worry about the disease (49.6%), followed by a high diabetes impact (46.6%) and low life satisfaction (42.9%). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. A significant correlation was found between depression, anxiety, and stress and DASS-21 scores with QoL (p < 0.001). The regression analysis indicated an association of distinct factors with QoL like age above 41 years (p = 0.004), being married (p < 0.001), being divorced (p = 0.04), higher education (p = 0.007), regular medicine intake (p = 0.01), regular exercise (p = 0.03), lipid profile (p = 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and DASS-21 scores (p < 0.001). Poor QoL score (TQoL score > 27) was significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001). The participants with higher monthly income, shorter disease duration, regular medicine use, and altered lipid profile, and older subjects had a lower chance of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusion

Approximately half of individuals with T2DM experienced poor QoL, while the prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and stress were 49.4, 71.7, and 49.8%, respectively. Scores in the domains of impact, worry, and satisfaction were below optimal levels. Several factors were linked to QoL and depression, anxiety, and stress, and an association was observed between DASS-21 scores and QoL.

Exploring the Impact of ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health on Participants' Approach and Attitude Toward the Care of Patients With Complex Needs

OBJECTIVE

To examine how project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Integrated Mental and Physical Health (ECHO-IMPH) influences the attitudes and approaches of primary care providers and other participants towards patients.

METHODS

An exploratory qualitative approach was undertaken using semistructured interviews conducted between August 2020 and March 2021. One hundred and sixty-four individuals from two cycles of ECHO-IMPH were invited to participate, and 22 (n = 22) agreed to participate. Data were analyzed using the Braun and Clarke method for thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three major themes were identified: 1) enhanced knowledge and skills; 2) changes in attitude and approach; 3) space for reflection and exploration. When participants were asked about areas for improvement, suggestions were focused on the structure of the sessions. Participants identified that ECHO-IMPH helped them to view patients more holistically, which led to greater patient-centered care in their practice. Additionally, skills gained in ECHO-IMPH gave participants the concrete tools needed to have more empathetic interactions with patients with complex needs.

CONCLUSIONS

ECHO-IMPH created a safe space for participants to reflect on their practice with patients with complex needs. Participants applied newly acquired knowledge and skills to provide more empathetic and patient-centered care for patients with complex needs. Based on the shift in perspectives described by participants, transformative learning theory was proposed as a model for how ECHO-IMPH created change in participants' practice.

Developing a nomogram for predicting depression in diabetic patients after COVID-19 using machine learning

Objective

This study identified major risk factors for depression in community diabetic patients using machine learning techniques and developed predictive models for predicting the high-risk group for depression in diabetic patients based on multiple risk factors.

Methods

This study analyzed 26,829 adults living in the community who were diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor. The prevalence of a depressive disorder was the dependent variable in this study. This study developed a model for predicting diabetic depression using multiple logistic regression, which corrected all confounding factors in order to identify the relationship (influence) of predictive factors for diabetic depression by entering the top nine variables with high importance, which were identified in CatBoost.

Results

The prevalence of depression was 22.4% (n = 6,001). This study calculated the importance of factors related to depression in diabetic patients living in South Korean community using CatBoost to find that the top nine variables with high importance were gender, smoking status, changes in drinking before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in smoking before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, subjective health, concern about economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in sleeping hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic activity, and the number of people you can ask for help in a disaster situation such as COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

It is necessary to identify the high-risk group for diabetes and depression at an early stage, while considering multiple risk factors, and to seek a personalized psychological support system at the primary medical level, which can improve their mental health.

Psychiatric Comorbidities and Outcomes in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Although psychiatric comorbidities are common among individuals at end of life, their impact on outcomes is poorly understood.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review of six databases following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines and aimed at assessing the relationship between psychiatric comorbidities and outcomes in palliative and end-of-life care. Six databases were included in our search. This review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022335922).

RESULTS

Our search generated 7472 unique records. Eighty-eight full texts were reviewed for eligibility and 43 studies were included in the review. Clinically, psychiatric comorbidity was associated with poor quality of life, increased physical symptom burden, and low function. The impact of psychiatric comorbidity on health utilization varied, though many studies suggested that psychiatric comorbidity increased utilization of palliative care services. Quality of evidence was limited by lack of consistent approach to confounding variables as well as heterogeneity of the included studies.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric comorbidity is associated with significant differences in care utilization and clinical outcome among patients at end of life. In particular, patients with psychiatric comorbidity and serious illness are at high risk of poor quality of life and high symptom burden. Our finding that psychiatric comorbidity is associated with increased utilization of palliative care likely reflects the complexity and clinical needs of patients with serious illness and mental health needs. These data suggest that greater integration of mental health and palliative care services may enhance quality-of-life among patients at end of life.

Impact of depression and antidepressant use on clinical outcomes of hepatitis B and C: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Depression is common in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. We evaluated the impact of major depressive disorder (MDD) and antidepressant use on survival among patients with HBV and HCV.

METHODS

We used The Health Improvement Network database, the largest medical database in the UK, to identify incident HBV (n=1401) and HCV (n=1635) in patients between 1986 and 2017. Our primary composite outcome was the development of decompensated cirrhosis or death. MDD and each class of antidepressants were assessed in multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and clinical comorbidities.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDD among HCV patients was higher compared with HBV patients (23.5% vs. 9.0%, p<0.001, respectively). Similarly, HCV patients were more likely to use antidepressants (59.6%) compared with HBV patients (27.1%), p>0.001. MDD was not an independent predictor for decompensated cirrhosis-free survival or mortality. However, the use of tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs) was associated with poor decompensated cirrhosis-free survival in HBV and HCV cohorts (adjusted HR: 1.80, 95% CI, 1.00-3.26 and 1.56, 95% CI, 1.13-2.14, respectively). Both TCAs in the HBV cohort and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among the HCV cohort were associated with poor overall survival (adjusted HR: 2.18, 95% CI, 1.16-4.10; 1.48, 95% CI, 1.02-2.16, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Although prevalent among viral hepatitis patients, MDD did not affect disease progression or survival in either HBV or HCV cohorts. TCA use was associated with poor decompensated cirrhosis-free survival. Therefore, its use should be further studied among viral hepatitis patients.

Associations between depression and diabetes among Latinx patients from low-income households in New Mexico

Depression and diabetes are co-occurring epidemics. This article explores the association between depression and diabetes in a cohort of Latinx patients with diabetes from low-income households. Data were gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico (U.S.) between 2016 and 2020 as part of a patient-engaged comparative effectiveness trial comparing two culturally appropriate diabetes self-management programs-the Chronic Care Model (CCM) and the standard of care, Diabetes Self-Management Support Empowerment Model (DSMS). We proposed that the program most culturally and contextually situated in the life of the patient would have the greatest impact on diabetes self-management. Participants were enrolled as dyads-226 Latinx diabetes patient participants (PPs) from low-income households and 226 social support participants (SSPs). Data gathered at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months included a measure of depression and A1c testing. Outcomes between programs were analyzed using longitudinal linear mixed modeling, adjusted for patient demographic characteristics and other potential confounding covariates. Patient A1c had an initial slight decrease at 3 months in both programs. At CCM, patients with a very high A1c (greater than 10%) demonstrated a clinically meaningful decrease in A1c over time. Patients at CCM experienced a large initial decrease in depression and continued to decrease throughout the study, while patients at DSMS showed a slight initial decrease through 6 months, but depression increased again by 12 months, nearly rebounding to baseline levels. A subgroup analysis revealed that a higher baseline A1c was associated with higher depression, and patients with higher A1c achieved greater reductions in depression at CCM than at DSMS. CCM scored higher on Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems cultural competence (CAHPS-CC). Interpretation of results suggests that the more culturally, contextually situated program, CCM, had better outcomes. This study demonstrates that culturally and contextually situating a diabetes intervention can deliver improved benefits for Latinx patients.

[Mental disorders and diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)]

Psychiatric disorders and psychological problems are common in patients with diabetes mellitus. There is a twofold increase in depression which is associated with suboptimal glycemic control and increased morbidity and mortality. Other psychiatric disorders with a higher incidence of diabetes are cognitive impairment, dementia, disturbed eating behavior, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and borderline personality disorder. The coincidence of mental disorders and diabetes has unfavorable influences on metabolic control and micro- and macroangiopathic complications. Improvement of therapeutic outcome is a challenge in the modern health care system. The intentions behind this position paper are to rise awareness of this special set of problems, to intensify cooperation between involved health care providers and to reduce incidence of diabetes mellitus as well as morbidity and mortality from diabetes in this patient group.

Associations between urea nitrogen and risk of depression among subjects with and without type 2 diabetes: A nationwide population-based study

Background

Depression and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are serious public health problems with irreversible health consequences and a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. Previous studies have suggested that blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was inversely longitudinally associated with incidence of diabetes and depression in adults, but few well-designed studies have examined the effects of status of T2D on the full range of relationship between BUN and depression.

Methods

The analysis sample consisted of adults aged≥20 years from the 2007-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), involving 19,005 participants. By stratifying participants according to T2D status, we further assessed the difference between BUN and risk of depression in participants with and without T2D using multivariate logistic regression (interaction test).

Results

In this cross-sectional study, the association between BUN and depression prevalence appeared to differ between the T2D and non-T2D groups (OR: 1.00, 95% Cl: 0.95-1.05 vs. OR: 0.89, 95% Cl: 0.85-0.93). In addition, there was evidence of an interaction between BUN levels and T2D status in reducing the risk of depression (P value for interaction = 0.032.) The relationship between BUN and depressive symptoms was significant in non-T2D subjects (P < 0.001), but not in T2D (P = 0.940).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between BUN and depression, and T2D status may influence the association between BUN and the risk of depression. Such findings require further prospective studies to provide more evidence.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality among people with severe mental illness in Brazil's public health system, 2000-15: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

People with severe mental illness have a mortality rate higher than the general population, living an average of 10-20 years less. Most studies of mortality among people with severe mental illness have occurred in high-income countries (HICs). We aimed to estimate all-cause and cause-specific relative risk (RR) and excess mortality rate (EMR) in a nationwide cohort of inpatients with severe mental illness compared with inpatients without severe mental illness in a middle income country, Brazil.

METHODS

This national retrospective cohort study included all patients hospitalised through the Brazilian Public Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde [SUS]-Brazil) between Jan 1, 2000, and April 21, 2015. Probabilistic and deterministic record linkages integrated data from the Hospital Information System (Sistema de informações Hospitalares) and the National Mortality System (Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade). Follow-up duration was measured from the date of the patients' first hospitalisation until their death, or until April 21, 2015. Severe mental illness was defined as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depressive disorder by ICD-10 codes used for the admission. RR and EMR were calculated with 95% CIs, comparing mortality among patients with severe mental illness with those with other diagnoses for patients aged 15 years and older. We redistributed deaths using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study methodology if ill-defined causes of death were stated as an underlying cause.

FINDINGS

From Jan 1, 2000, to April 21, 2015, 72 021 918 patients (31 510 035 [43·8%] recorded as male and 40 974 426 [56·9%] recorded as female; mean age 41·1 (SD 23·8) years) were admitted to hospital, with 749 720 patients (372 458 [49·7%] recorded as male and 378 670 [50·5%] as female) with severe mental illness. 5 102 055 patient deaths (2 862 383 [56·1%] recorded as male and 2 314 781 [45·4%] as female) and 67 485 deaths in patients with severe mental illness (39 099 [57·9%] recorded as male and 28 534 [42·3%] as female) were registered. The RR for all-cause mortality in patients with severe mental illness was 1·27 (95% CI 1·27-1·28) and the EMR was 2·52 (2·44-2·61) compared with non-psychiatric inpatients during the follow-up period. The all-cause RR was higher for females and for younger age groups; however, EMR was higher in those aged 30-59 years. The RR and EMR varied across the leading causes of death, sex, and age groups. We identified injuries (suicide, interpersonal violence, and road injuries) and cardiovascular disease (ischaemic heart disease) as having the highest EMR among those with severe mental illness. Data on ethnicity were not available.

INTERPRETATION

In contrast to studies from HICs, inpatients with severe mental illness in Brazil had high RR for idiopathic epilepsy, tuberculosis, HIV, and acute hepatitis, and no significant difference in mortality from cancer compared with inpatients without severe mental illness. These identified causes should be addressed as a priority to maximise mortality prevention among people with severe mental illness, especially in a middle-income country like Brazil that has low investment in mental health.

FUNDING

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, FAPEMIG, and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil.

The Other Face of Insulin—Overdose and Its Effects

Insulin is the most effective glycemic-lowering drug, and for people suffering from type 1 diabetes it is a life-saving drug. Its self-dosing by patients may be associated with a higher risk of overdose, both accidental and deliberate. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia causes up to 100,000 emergency department calls per year. Cases of suicide attempts using insulin have been described in the literature since its introduction into therapy, and one of the important factors in their occurrence is the very fact of chronic disease. Up to 90% of patients who go to toxicology wards overdose insulin consciously. Patients with diabetes are burdened with a 2–3 times higher risk of developing depression compared to the general population. For this reason, it is necessary to develop an effective system for detecting a predisposition to overdose, including the assessment of the first symptoms of depression in patients with diabetes. A key role is played by a risk-conscious therapeutic team, as well as education. Further post-mortem testing is also needed for material collection and storage, as well as standardization of analytical methods and interpretation of results, which would allow for more effective detection and analysis of intentional overdose—both by the patient and for criminal purposes.

Risk of Depression and Suicide in Diabetic Patients

Although mental disorders in diabetics are more prevalent than in the general population, an increased prevalence of depression, frequently leading to suicide, has been reported in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to assess the risk of depression and suicide in diabetic patients. The prevalence of depression and suicide is high among diabetic individuals. Risk factors including history of depression, presence of comorbidity, younger age, lower education, low social support, presence of diabetic complications, poor glycemic control, and physical impairment, all increase the risk of depression among diabetics. On the other hand, female sex, the intensity of childhood trauma, a history of alcohol misuse, depression, lower level of education, comorbidities, higher blood glucose levels, and previous history of suicide, all increase the risk of suicide among diabetics. Additionally, a bidirectional relationship exists between depression and diabetes. For example, depression can cause diabetes due to the disease's psychological and psychosocial impact, microvascular brain lesions, higher glutamate levels, poor glycemic control, and medication adherence. On the other hand, diabetic patients develop depression due to the stress associated with disease management. This paper concluded that depression and suicide are both prevalent conditions among diabetic patients. The higher risk of depression and suicidality in diabetic patients emphasizes the critical need of integrating depression screening and treatment into primary healthcare settings to avoid fatal conditions in the future. However, more research is required in this area.

Swimming exercise decreases depression-like behaviour and inflammatory cytokines in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Can swimming exercise decrease depression-like behaviour and inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice? What is the main finding and its importance? Swimming exercise decreased depression-like behaviour by reducing inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice. Swimming exercise might be useful for the treatment of depression-related disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT

Clinical and experimental studies have shown that type 2 diabetes is associated with depression-related disorders. Inflammation has been identified as a common mechanism in both type 2 diabetes and depression. Several studies have suggested that swimming exercise might be able to reduce depression-related symptoms. The present study aimed to explore whether swimming exercise can decrease depression-like behaviour in type 2 diabetic mice. To induce type 2 diabetes, male C57BL6 mice were treated with a high-fat diet and streptozocin. Type 2 diabetic animals were subjected to swimming exercise for 4 weeks. Then, depression-like behaviours were evaluated by sucrose preference, novelty-suppressed feeding, social interaction and tail suspension tests. We also measured levels of glucose, insulin and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α in the serum of animals. The results indicated that type 2 diabetes significantly increased anhedonia- and depression-like behaviours in mice. We also found significant increases in glucose, insulin and inflammatory cytokines in diabetic mice. Moreover, swimming exercise reduced anhedonia- and depression-like behaviour in type 2 diabetic mice. Swimming exercise also decreased glucose and inflammatory cytokines in the serum of mice with type 2 diabetes. Collectively, this study demonstrates that swimming exercise decreased depression-like behaviour by reducing inflammation in type 2 diabetic mice. Further clinical studies are needed to validate these findings in patients with type 2 diabetes.

High Depressive Symptoms in Previously Undetected Diabetes - 10-Year Follow-Up Results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study

Aim

To determine the 10-year cumulative incidence of high depressive symptoms in people with diagnosed and, in particular, previously undetected diabetes compared to those without diabetes in a population-based cohort study in Germany.

Materials and Methods

We included 2813 participants (52.9% men, mean age (SD) 58.9 (7.7) years, 7.1% diagnosed diabetes, 5.6% previously undetected diabetes) from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study. We calculated the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multiple logistic regression analyses for diagnosed and undetected diabetes.

Results

Cumulative 10-year incidences (95%-CI) of high depressive symptoms in participants with diagnosed diabetes, previously undetected diabetes, and without diabetes were 15.4% (10.7–21.2), 10.1% (5.9–15.9), and 12.4% (11.1–13.8), respectively. Age-sex-adjusted ORs were 1.51 (1.01–2.28) in participants with diagnosed diabetes compared to those without, 1.40 (0.92–2.12) after adjustment for BMI, physical activity, education, and smoking, and 1.33 (0.87–2.02) after further adjustment for stroke and myocardial infarction. ORs in participants with previously undetected diabetes were 0.96 (0.56–1.65), 0.85 (0.49–1.47), and 0.85 (0.49–1.48), respectively, and lower in men than in women.

Conclusion

As expected, we found an increased odds of developing high depressive symptoms in participants with diagnosed diabetes. However, the odds ratios decreased when we considered comorbidities and other covariates. Interestingly, in participants with previously undetected diabetes, the odds was not increased, even 10 years after detection of diabetes. These results support the hypothesis that high depressive symptoms develop due to diabetes-related burdens and comorbidities and not due to hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia.

High Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Developing Countries: Results From the International Diabetes Management Practices Study

OBJECTIVE

Depression is common in people with diabetes, but data from developing countries are scarce. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms in patients with diabetes using data from the International Diabetes Management Practices Study (IDMPS).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

IDMPS is an ongoing multinational, cross-sectional study investigating quality of care in patients with diabetes in real-world settings. Data from wave 5 (2011), including 21 countries, were analyzed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to evaluate depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Of 9,865 patients eligible for analysis, 2,280 had type 1 and 7,585 had type 2 diabetes (treatment: oral glucose-lowering drugs [OGLD] only, n = 4,729; OGLDs plus insulin, n = 1,892; insulin only, n = 964). Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥5) were reported in 30.7% of those with type 1 diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the respective figures were 29.0% for OGLDs-only, 36.6% for OGLDs-plus-insulin, and 46.7% for insulin-only subgroups. Moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score 10-19) were observed in 8-16% of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Female sex, complications, and low socioeconomic status were independently associated with depressive symptoms. In type 1 diabetes and in the type 2 diabetes OGLDs-only group, depression was associated with poor glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with diabetes from developing countries, calling for routine screening, especially in high-risk groups, to reduce the double burden of diabetes and depression and their negative interaction.

Depressive Symptoms among Patients with Diabetes in Qatar: Frequency and Potential Determinants

Background: Diabetes is a highly prevalent chronic disease that is associated with major complications. Findings regarding risk of depression among patients with diabetes are controversial. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms among Qatari patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on Qatar Biobank (QBB) data of 2448 Qatari adults with diabetes aged 21–60 years old. Data regarding age, gender, education, income, body mass index (BMI), medication use, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were retrieved. Patients’ responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were also obtained. Data analyses was performed using STATA 16, and statistical significance was considered at a p-value of <0.05. Results: Of the 2448 participants, 15.4% (n = 378) had self-reported depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were frequent among females (69.6%), smokers (15.9%), and participants with a higher level of education (47.1%). Average age of participants who reported depressive symptoms was significantly less that among participants without depressive symptoms (44.8 vs. 52.9 years). Qatari women with diabetes seem to be at higher risk of depression when compared to men (OR = 1.819, 95% CI: 1.42–2.33); The odds of reporting depressive symptoms were 35% higher among patients with more advanced educational qualifications (OR = 1.351, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.82). Smokers were twice as likely to report depressive symptoms as their non-smoking counterparts. There was no significant relationship between depression and poor glycemic control, physical activity, BMI, or insulin use. Conclusions: In summary, the study results suggest that several sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, and level of education were associated with the risk of depressive symptoms among Qataris with diabetes.

The impact of psychiatric and medical comorbidity on the risk of mortality: a population-based analysis

BACKGROUND

As life expectancy increases, more people have chronic psychiatric and medical health disorders. Comorbidity may increase the risk of premature mortality, an important challenge for health service delivery.

METHODS

Population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada of all 11 246 910 residents aged ⩾16 and <105 on 1 April 2012 and alive on 31 March 2014. Secondary analyses included subjects having common medical disorders in 10 separate cohorts. Exposures were psychiatric morbidity categories identified using aggregated diagnosis groups (ADGs) from Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups software® (v10.0); ADG 25: Persistent/Recurrent unstable conditions; e.g. acute schizophrenic episode, major depressive disorder (recurrent episode), ADG 24: Persistent/Recurrent stable conditions; e.g. depressive disorder, paranoid personality disorder, ADG 23: Time-limited/minor conditions; e.g. adjustment reaction with brief depressive reaction. The outcome was all-cause mortality (April 2014-March 2016).

RESULTS

Over 2 years' follow-up, there were 188 014 deaths (1.7%). ADG 25 conferred an almost threefold excess mortality after adjustment compared to having no psychiatric morbidity [adjusted hazard ratio 2.94 (95% CI 2.91-2.98, p < 0.0001)]. Adjusted hazard ratios for ADG 24 and ADG 23 were 1.12 (95% CI 1.11-1.14, p < 0.0001) and 1.31 (95% CI 1.26-1.36, p < 0.0001). In all 10 medical disorder cohorts, ADG 25 carried significantly greater mortality risk compared to no psychiatric comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric disorders, particularly those graded persistent/recurrent and unstable, were associated with excess mortality in the whole population, and in the medical disorder cohorts examined. Future research should examine whether service design accounting for psychiatric disorder comorbidity improves outcomes across the spectrum of medical disorders.

Depression and cardiovascular disease events among patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis with bias analysis

AIMS

To provide updated systematic and quantitative summary of the association between depression and the risk of CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. We also aimed to examine the sensitivity of the association to uncontrolled confounding.

METHODS

Data sources included Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo through September 2019. Two independent reviewers selected cohort studies that evaluated the association between depression and fatal or non-fatal CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Bias analysis was performed using the bias formula approach.

RESULTS

Of 2527 citations screened, 17 eligible studies with a total of 1,033,131 participants were identified. Based on random-effects meta-analysis, depression was associated with higher risks of non-fatal CVD events (relative risk 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20 to 1.53) and fatal CVD event (relative risk 1.47, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.77). Bias analysis indicated that unmeasured confounders alone may not explain the observed association between depression and CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression was associated with a higher risk of non-fatal and fatal CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Our findings provide updated and robust evidence about the association between depression and CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Design and methods of NYC care calls: An effectiveness trial of telephone-delivered type 2 diabetes self-management support

Although problems with type 2 diabetes (T2D) self-management and treatment adherence often co-occur with emotional distress, few translatable intervention approaches are available that can target these related problems in primary care practice settings. The New York City (NYC) Care Calls study is a randomized controlled trial that tests the effectiveness of structured support for diabetes self-management and distress management, delivered via telephone by health educators, in improving glycemic control, self-management and emotional well-being among predominantly ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adults with suboptimally controlled T2D. English- and Spanish-speaking adults treated for T2D in NYC primary care practices were recruited based on having an A1C ≥ 7.5% despite being prescribed medications for diabetes. Participants (N = 812) were randomly assigned to a telephonic intervention condition with a stepped protocol of 6-12 phone calls over 1 year, delivered by a health educator, or to a comparison condition of enhanced usual care. The primary outcome is change in A1C over one year, measured at baseline and again approximately 6- and 12-months later. Secondary outcomes measured on the same schedule include blood pressure, patient-reported emotional distress, treatment adherence and self-management behaviors. A comprehensive effectiveness evaluation is guided by the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) to gather data that can inform dissemination and implementation of the intervention, if successful. This paper describes the study rationale, trial design, and methodology.

Managing the multifaceted nature of type 2 diabetes using once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

As a highly prevalent chronic condition associated with complications and high mortality rates, it is important for pharmacists to have a comprehensive understanding of the impact of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and available treatment options. The use of injectable glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) is recommended as an effective and convenient treatment regimen for improving glycaemic control in individuals with T2D, with a good safety profile; however, the wider extent of its potential benefits often are unknown to clinical pharmacists. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the impact of T2D on individuals and to discuss the multifaceted role of once-weekly (QW) GLP-1 RAs in addressing these challenges.

METHODS

This is a narrative review of the published literature regarding the use of injectable GLP-1 RAs in managing health complications in people with T2D.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Recent findings reveal additional benefits of GLP-1 RAs in managing T2D complications, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Dulaglutide and semaglutide have been shown to provide additional CV benefit in patients at high risk of CV events compared with standard of care/placebo and may offer renal protection in patients with chronic kidney disease. Cost-effectiveness studies, taking into consideration these different complications, have shown that QW GLP-1 RAs were cost-effective compared with other therapies. GLP-1 RAs may also help to improve overall health-related quality of life, reducing the risk of depression and 'diabetes distress', and limiting the risk of hypoglycaemia.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

From the literature, this appears to be the first review of the evidence supporting the multifaceted role of QW GLP-1 RAs in T2D, with particular emphasis on their use in comorbid conditions, as well as associated potential financial and well-being benefits. The results suggest that QW GLP-1 RAs may be an attractive treatment option for improving glycaemic control in T2D, especially in individuals with (or at risk of) additional comorbidities or health complications.

Depression is independently associated with increased length of stay and readmissions in multimorbid inpatients

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the impact of depression across a broad range of multimorbid patients hospitalized for reasons other than depression. The objective of the study was to investigate in a large sample of multimorbid inpatients whether ancillary depression is associated with increased length of stay (LOS) and readmissions, two important clinical outcomes with implications for healthcare utilization and costs.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 253,009 multimorbid inpatients aged ≥18 at an academic medical center, 8/2009-8/2017.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

LOS.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

LOS related to different main diagnoses, readmissions within 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24-months after discharge.

RESULTS

Multivariable linear regression showed 24% longer LOS in patients with ancillary depression (1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 1.25). Females stayed 22% longer (1.22; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.25), males 24% (1.24; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.27). We identified 16 main diagnosis clusters in which ancillary depression was associated with significant LOS increases, with associations being strongest for "Failure and rejection of transplanted organs and tissues", "Other noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis", and "Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified". Multivariable logistic and Poisson regression showed independent associations of ancillary depression with increased readmission odds and frequencies at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Ancillary depression was independently associated with increased LOS and more readmissions across a broad range of multimorbid inpatients.

Mixed method evaluation of Relational Team Development (RELATED) to improve team-based care for complex patients with mental illness in primary care

BACKGROUND

Patients with mental illness are frequently treated in primary care, where Primary Care Providers (PCPs) report feeling ill-equipped to manage their care. Team-based models of care improve outcomes for patients with mental illness, but multiple barriers limit adoption. Barriers include practical issues and psychosocial factors associated with the reorganization of care. Practice facilitation can improve implementation, but does not directly address the psychosocial factors or gaps in PCP skills in managing mental illness. To address these gaps, we developed Relational Team Development (RELATED).

METHODS

RELATED is an implementation strategy combining practice facilitation and psychology clinical supervision methodologies to improve implementation of team-based care. It includes PCP-level clinical coaching and a team-level practice change activity. We performed a preliminary assessment of RELATED with a convergent parallel mixed method study in 2 primary care clinics in an urban Federally Qualified Health Center in Southwest, USA, 2017-2018. Study participants included PCPs, clinic staff, and patient representatives. Clinic staff and patients were recruited for the practice change activity only. Primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability. Feasibility was assessed as ease of recruitment and implementation. Acceptability was measured in surveys of PCPs and staff and focus groups. We conducted semi-structured focus groups with 3 participant groups in each clinic: PCPs; staff and patients; and leadership. Secondary outcomes were change in pre- post- intervention PCP self-efficacy in mental illness management and team-based care. We conducted qualitative observations to better understand clinic climate.

RESULTS

We recruited 18 PCPs, 17 staff members, and 3 patient representatives. We ended recruitment early due to over recruitment. Both clinics developed and implemented practice change activities. The mean acceptability score was 3.7 (SD=0.3) on a 4-point Likert scale. PCPs had a statistically significant increase in their mental illness management self-efficacy [change = 0.9, p-value= <.01]. Focus group comments were largely positive, with PCPs requesting additional coaching.

CONCLUSIONS

RELATED was feasible and highly acceptable. It led to positive changes in PCP self-efficacy in Mental Illness Management. If confirmed as an effective implementation strategy, RELATED has the potential to significantly impact implementation of evidence-based interventions for patients with mental illness in primary care.

Diabetes, depressive symptoms, and mortality risk in old age: The role of inflammation

BACKGROUND

Both diabetes and depression increase the mortality risk in the elderly. In this study, we evaluated mortality risk associated with the comorbidity between depression and diabetes. We also assessed the moderating role of inflammation in the mortality risk in this population.

METHODS

We included a total of 1,183 community-dwelling older adults, divided into four groups: "neither diabetes nor depression"; "diabetes only"; "depression only," and "both diabetes and depression," and followed-up for a median of 13.5 years. We evaluated the inflammatory status by the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Date of death was computed by reviewing death certificates. We used Cox's proportional hazards models and additive interactions to evaluate the risk of mortality in the subject groups and the moderating effect of hs-CRP.

RESULTS

Participants with both diabetes and depression had higher death risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59-3.42) than those with each condition alone (HR diabetes: 2.08 95% CI: 1.56-2.76 HR depression: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.03-1.54). High level of hs-CRP, indicative of high inflammatory status, significantly moderated the risk of mortality in subjects with both diabetes and depression (Bonferroni-adjusted p = 0.0116).

CONCLUSIONS

The coexistence of diabetes and depression symptoms is associated with the highest death risk in this population. This risk is moderated by inflammatory status.

Antidepressants Reduced Risk of Mortality in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

CONTEXT

The effect of antidepressant (ATD) use on mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has not yet been sufficiently studied, although comorbid depression is common in this population.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of ATDs on mortality among DM patients.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study in a national database.

SETTING

This population-based study used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Since 2000, we identified 53,412 cases of newly diagnosed patients with DM and depression. Patient cases were followed for assessing mortality until 2013.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The association between mortality and ATD use was explored adjusting for cumulative dosing.

RESULTS

Using the time-dependent Cox regression model, ATD use was associated with significantly reduced mortality among patients with DM [in the highest dose group: hazard ratio (HR), 0.65; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.71]. Further analysis showed that differences in mortality existed across ATD categories: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.71), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.78), norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.63), mirtazapine (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.82), tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.97), and trazodone (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.91). However, reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA) was found to be associated with an increase, rather than a decrease, in total mortality (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.99).

CONCLUSION

Most ATDs, but not RIMA, were associated with significantly reduced mortality among a population with comorbid DM and depression.

[Mental disorders and diabetes mellitus (Update 2019)]

Psychiatric disorders and psychological problems are common in patients with diabetes mellitus. There is a twofold increase in depression which is associated with suboptimal glycemic control and increased morbidity and mortality. Other psychiatric disorders with a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus are cognitive impairment, dementia, disturbed eating behavior, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and borderline personality disorder. The coincidence of mental disorders and diabetes mellitus has unfavorable influences on metabolic control and micro- and macroangiopathic complications. Improvement of therapeutic outcome is a challenge in the modern health care system. The intentions behind this position paper are to rise awareness of this special set of problems, to intensify cooperation between involved health care providers and to reduce incidence of diabetes mellitus as well as morbidity and mortality from diabetes in this patient group.

Designing the relational team development intervention to improve management of mental health in primary care using iterative stakeholder engagement

BACKGROUND

Team-based models of care are efficacious in improving outcomes for patients with mental and physical illnesses. However, primary care clinics have been slow to adopt these models. We used iterative stakeholder engagement to develop an intervention to improve the implementation of team-based care for this complex population.

METHODS

We developed the initial framework for Relational Team Development (RELATED) from a qualitative study of Primary Care Providers' (PCPs') experiences treating mental illness and a literature review of practice facilitation and psychology clinical supervision. Subsequently, we surveyed 900 Colorado PCPs to identify factors associated with PCP self-efficacy in management of mental illness and team-based care. We then conducted two focus groups for feedback on RELATED. Lastly, we convened an expert panel to refine the intervention.

RESULTS

We developed RELATED, a two-part intervention delivered by a practice facilitator with a background in clinical psychology. The facilitator observes PCPs during patient visits and provides individualized coaching. Next, the facilitator guides the primary care team through a practice change activity with a focus on relational team dynamics.

CONCLUSION

The iterative development of RELATED using stakeholder engagement offers a model for the development of interventions tailored to the needs of these stakeholders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among patients with type II diabetes attending primary healthcare centers in the western region of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent health problem, not only globally, but also in Saudi Arabia. A growing body of literature suggests a bi-directional association between T2DM and various mental health disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among T2DM patients in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Between May and August 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients with T2DM in five public primary care centers in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic characteristics and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the self-administered, previously validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. Simple descriptive statistics were used. Forward binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress.

RESULTS

A total of 450 adults with T2DM were included (56.9% men; 43.1% women). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 33.8%, 38.3%, and 25.5%, respectively. Major predictors of psychological distress were age, sex, the presence of comorbidities, duration since T2DM diagnosis, and serum level of hemoglobin A1c. Compliance with diabetes management measures and older age were the only protective factors.

CONCLUSION

Patients with T2DM had significantly high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. We recommend periodic screening of patients with T2DM for psychological distress using easy and inexpensive validated screening tools like the DASS-21 questionnaire. Further larger-scale studies are needed to investigate the causes and outcomes of these higher rates of psychological distress among Saudi patients with diabetes.

The antidepressant effect of bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in chronic stress

BACKGROUND

Inflammation could be a risk factor for the development of depression and change the outcome of this common chronic-recurrent mental disorder.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate if bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMC) transplantation is effective in restoring sucrose preference in rats subjected to chronic stress (CS), if it has an anti-inflammatory effect and is able to restore damaged DNA.

METHODS

The effect of BMMC transplantation was studied in a controlled protocol (compared with a control group and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram group) involving sucrose preference in CS in rats. Measurements were taken of the amygdala, hippocampus, frontal cortex, and other brain areas, the spleen and blood pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. Finally, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a DNA damage marker) was determined.

RESULTS

BMMC transplantation was as effective as escitalopram in restoring sucrose preference. It also had an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly improved damaged DNA after one week.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest administration of BMMC in rats subjected to CS restores sucrose preference, resolves inflammation in both the peripheral and central nervous system, as well as diminishes DNA damage. This effect was similar to that of escitalopram, which is effective in the treatment of depressive patients.

Intervention Strategies for Prevention of Comorbid Depression Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D)-related depression has a significant impact on quality of life and leads to greater morbidity and mortality. Current educational and treatment programs for T2D rarely include a specific depression-prevention component, focusing largely on remediating depressive symptoms that have reached clinical levels. Objective: Given the vast field of research on the association between T2D and depression, and the unknown status of prevention efforts for the latter, the goal of this scoping review was to conduct a synopsis of intervention strategies specifically targeting the prevention of depression among adults with T2D. Eligibility Criteria: (1) participants aged 18 and over with T2D; (2) experimental and quasi-experimental designs (3) intervention strategies seeking to prevent the onset or worsening of (non-clinical) depressive symptoms; (4) a valid measure of depressive symptoms; (5) full-text articles available in English or French. Sources of Evidence: Databases including Medline, PubMed, and SCOPUS were searched between 2000 and 2018 resulting in 4,219 potential articles. Charting Methods: This review was conducted in-line with the current methodological framework for scoping reviews. Titles, abstract and full text articles were screened independently and in duplicate. A narrative analysis was conducted to synthesize study characteristics and the nature of intervention strategies and components. Results: Twelve studies were identified with the primary aim of preventing the incidence of depressive symptoms or improving non-clinical depression levels. Individual and group-based approaches included educational interventions incorporating diabetes self-management, problem-solving, and resilience-focused approaches, emotion-targeted techniques as well as alternative interventions. Self-monitoring, home practices, and motivational interviewing were common elements. Conclusions: This review lays the groundwork for future studies seeking to develop, validate, and improve prevention strategies targeting the diabetes-depression comorbidity. More studies over longer periods and with larger samples are needed to capture the effects of prevention efforts.

Subclinical inflammation and depressive symptoms in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Depression is a frequent comorbidity of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Depression and diabetes are linked by a bidirectional relationship, but the underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Experimental, observational and intervention studies showed that inflammatory processes contribute to the development of depression in animal models and humans. Given the high risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with the double burden of diabetes and depression, this review provides an overview of epidemiological studies that addressed the relationship between biomarkers of inflammation and depressive symptoms or depression in diabetes patients. In patients with T1D, there is some evidence that higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and sICAM-1 may be related to depressive symptoms or (for hsCRP) lower treatment response. For T2D, hsCRP, IL-1RA, CCL2 and adiponectin or its isoforms were associated with depressive symptoms in at least two studies, whereas positive associations of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 with depressive symptoms or depression were reported from single cohorts. However, the number of studies is too low for any meaningful meta-analysis. Prospective life course studies including both patients with T1D and T2D, a comprehensive assessment of systemic inflammation and repeated assessment of depressive symptoms should represent a future research priority to clarify to what extent subclinical inflammation affects the risk of depression in patients with diabetes. A better understanding of the role of inflammatory processes may help to identify subtypes of depression with partly different pathogenesis, which could have consequences with respect to therapeutic options including immunomodulation.

The nexus between health and time use among racially and ethnically diverse women

OBJECTIVES

Ethnic and racial health disparities have been well-documented in the scholarly literature. In recent years, evidence about time spent in physical (in)activity and its relationship to physical and mental health has also emerged. This study assesses if observed ethnic/racial health differences were associated with differences in time use.

DESIGN

Our analyses utilized baseline data from 510 Utah women who enrolled in one of two community-based, participatory research intervention studies between 2012 and 2015. The distinct racial/ethnic groups included African immigrants, African Americans, Latinas, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, and rural White, Non-Latina women. In the baseline survey, respondents reported the typical time they spent in paid employment, television/movie viewing, physical activity, food preparation/clean-up, and sleep. Cluster analysis was used to identify seven distinct patterns of time use within these five activities. We related these time use patterns along with race/ethnicity, socio-demographics, and other potentially contributing health-related factors (e.g. smoking status) to two health outcomes: (1) self-reported health status, and (2) depression.

RESULTS

Our time use clusters revealed heterogeneity by racial/ethnic groups, suggesting that some of the health effects that may have been previously ascribed to group membership should instead be attributed to (un)healthy patterns of time use. In particular, spending too much time in sedentary activities such as watching television/movies and too little time sleeping both linked to poor physical and mental health, independently of racial/ethnic group membership.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers and policy makers designing culturally sensitive physical activity health-related interventions should consider patterns of time use that are associated with poor health. Programs designed to improve sleep time and reduce sedentary television-viewing time may be as important as interventions designed to increase physical activity time. These broader patterns of time use mediated the relationships between race/ethnicity and physical and mental health for the women in our study.

Efficacy of an Education Program for People With Diabetes and Insulin Pump Treatment (INPUT): Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is the most advanced form of insulin delivery, but it requires structured education to provide users with the necessary knowledge/skills and to support their motivation. Currently, no structured education program designed to provide this training has been evaluated. We developed a CSII-specific, structured education program (Insulin Pump Treatment [INPUT]) and evaluated its impact on glycemic control, behavior, and psychosocial status.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, randomized, parallel trial with a 6-month follow-up. Eligible participants (age 16-75 years) currently were treated with insulin pump therapy. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to the INPUT program or to usual care using a computer-generated algorithm, with study center as the stratification factor. The primary outcome was HbA_1c change from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes were incidence of severe hypoglycemia and changes in behavioral and psychosocial measures.

RESULTS

Between 1 April 2016 and 26 April 2016, 268 people with diabetes and a mean duration of CSII therapy of 9.5 years were randomly assigned to the INPUT group (n = 135) or control group (n = 133). At 6 months, HbA_1c improved in the INPUT group (8.33 ± 0.8 vs. 8.04 ± 0.9; P < 0.0001) but not in the control group (8.33 ± 1.0 vs. 8.27 ± 1.0; P = 0.11). The between-group difference in HbA_1c reduction was significant, favoring INPUT (-0.28% vs. -0.06%, Δ -0.22%, 95% CI -0.38 to -0.06; P = 0.0029). The incidence rate ratio of severe hypoglycemia was 3.55 times higher for participants in the control group than for those in the INPUT group (95% CI 1.50-8.43; P = 0.0041).

CONCLUSIONS

The INPUT education program led to a significant improvement in glycemic control and incidence of severe hypoglycemia in insulin pump users.

Ascorbic acid therapy: A potential strategy against comorbid depression-like behavior in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats

This study examined the potency and efficacy of ascorbic acid (AA) in the management of depression-like behavior in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injections of nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) administered 15 min apart. Diabetic (blood glucose ≥250 mg/dL) rats were subjected to intermittent foot-shocks to induce comorbid depression. Seven groups of diabetes comorbid depressed rats received vehicle (1 mL/kg) or AA (10, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) orally for eleven days. Three control groups namely- nondiabetic, diabetic, and depressed rats received the vehicles only. The potency (ED₅₀) and efficacy (E_max) of AA against immobility period, hypercorticosteronemia, adrenal hyperplasia, hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response were estimated. AA administration caused a dose-dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in immobility period with maximum inhibition of 69% (efficacy) at 200 mg/kg and ED₅₀ of 14 mg/kg (potency). AA at 200 mg/kg produced the maximal reduction in hypercorticosteronemia (55.1%) and adrenal hyperplasia (52.6%) with ED₅₀ of 9.8 and 14.4 mg/kg, respectively. AA at 400 mg/kg produced the maximal reduction in hyperglycemia (35.5%), hypoinsulinemia (32.7%), and lipid peroxidation (82%) with ED₅₀ of 18.6, 13.7, and 20.7 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, AA at 400 mg/kg produced the maximal increase in SOD content (83%), CAT activity (77.9%), and IL-10 level (63%) with ED₅₀ of 21.5, 21, and 21 mg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, the present results suggest that AA has therapeutic potential against diabetes comorbid depression but better regulation of hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia is required to achieve maximal benefits.

Web-Based Interventions for Depression in Individuals with Diabetes: Review and Discussion

Background

Depression is twice as common in people with diabetes, and this comorbidity worsens the course of both pathologies. In clinical practice guidelines, screening and treatment of depression in patients with diabetes are highly recommended. However, depression is still both underrecognized and undertreated. To find ways to enhance their reach, psychological treatments have taken advantage of benefits of internet and technological devices as delivery formats, providing interventions that require considerably less (or even no) interaction time with therapists. Web-based treatments hold promise for effective interventions at low cost with positive results.

Objective

The objectives of this review were to describe Web-based interventions for depression in individuals with diabetes and to discuss these studies’ procedures and findings in light of evidence from a wider range of interventions for depression and diabetes.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PsycINFO and MEDLINE electronic databases. Studies were included when they met the following selection criteria: the study was available in a peer-reviewed journal mainly publishing studies written in either English or Spanish; the studied sample comprised individuals with diabetes; the intervention targeted depression symptomatology; the intervention was accessible via the internet; and the intervention was accessible via the internet with little or no clinician support.

Results

Overall, 5 research studies were identified in the review. All studies were randomized controlled trials, and most used a wait list as a control; 4 studies reported treatment dropout, rates of which varied from 13% to 42%. Studies supported the notion that the Web-based format is a suitable psychology service delivery option for diabetic individuals with depression (effect size range for completers 0.7-0.89). Interventions varied in their characteristics but most were clinical-assisted, had a cognitive behavioral therapy approach, used diabetes-specific topics, had a weekly modular display, used homework assignments, and had some adherence management strategy. These characteristics are consistent with the intervention features associated with positive results in the literature.

Conclusions

The analyzed studies’ findings and procedures are discussed in light of evidence drawn from a wider range of reviews on Web-based interventions for depression and diabetes. Consistent with previous research on depression treatment, Web-based interventions for depression among individuals with diabetes have shown positive results. Future research should contribute new evidence as to why these interventions are effective, for whom, and which particular aspects can increase patients’ adherence.

Comparative Effectiveness of Coalitions Versus Technical Assistance for Depression Quality Improvement in Persons with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Significance

Prior research suggests that Community Engagement and Planning (CEP) for coalition support compared with Resources for Services (RS) for program technical assistance to implement depression quality improvement programs improves 6- and 12-month client mental-health related quality of life (MHRQL); however, effects for clients with multiple chronic medical conditions (MCC) are unknown.

Objective

To explore effectiveness of CEP vs RS in MCC and non-MCC subgroups.

Design

Secondary analyses of a cluster-randomized trial.

Setting

93 health care and community-based programs in two neighborhoods.

Participants

Of 4,440 clients screened, 1,322 depressed (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ8) provided contact information, 1,246 enrolled and 1,018 (548 with ≥3 MCC) completed baseline, 6- or 12-month surveys.

Intervention

CEP or RS for implementing depression quality improvement programs.

Outcomes and Analyses

Primary: depression (PHQ9 <10), poor MHRQL (Short Form Health Survey, SF-12<40); Secondary: mental wellness, good physical health, behavioral health hospitalization, chronic homelessness risk, work/workloss days, services use at 6 and 12 months. End-point regressions were used to estimate intervention effects on outcomes for subgroups with ≥3 MCC, non-MCC, and intervention-by-MCC interactions (exploratory).

Results

Among MCC clients at 6 months, CEP vs RS lowered likelihoods of depression and poor MHRQL; increased likelihood of mental wellness; reduced work-loss days among employed and likelihoods of ≥4 behavioral-health hospitalization nights and chronic homelessness risk, while increasing faith-based and park community center depression services; and at 12 months, likelihood of good physical health and park community center depression services use (each P<.05). There were no significant interactions or primary outcome effects for non-MCC.

Conclusions

CEP was more effective than RS in improving 6-month primary outcomes among depressed MCC clients, without significant interactions.

Design and Implementation of a Depression Registry for Primary Care

Registries are fundamental to the success of population health initiatives to improve care and outcomes for patients, including those with depression. The purpose of this article is to describe the design and clinical implementation of a depression registry as part of a collaborative care for depression intervention at 2 large academic outpatient internal medicine practices. The primary objective of the registry was to identify and track patients with depression and monitor antidepressant therapy. Secondary objectives of the registry were to assist in addressing pay-for-performance and value-based reimbursement metrics for depression screening and remission. The registry design and variables for inclusion in the registry were defined with input from clinicians, institutional leadership, and data analysts. For implementation, specific clinical workflows were established and responsible team roles were designated.

Chronic care coordination by integrating care through a team-based, population-driven approach: a case study

Patients with chronic conditions frequently experience behavioral comorbidities to which primary care cannot easily respond. This study observed a Vermont family medicine practice with integrated medical and behavioral health services that use a structured approach to implement a chronic care management system with Lean. The practice chose to pilot a population-based approach to improve outcomes for patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes using a stepped-care model with an interprofessional team including a community health nurse. This case study observed the team's use of Lean, with which it designed and piloted a clinical algorithm composed of patient self-assessment, endorsement of behavioral goals, shared documentation of goals and plans, and follow-up. The team redesigned workflows and measured reach (patients who engaged to the end of the pilot), outcomes (HbA1c results), and process (days between HbA1c tests). The researchers evaluated practice member self-reports about the use of Lean and facilitators and barriers to move from pilot to larger scale applications. Of 20 eligible patients recruited over 3 months, 10 agreed to participate and 9 engaged fully (45%); 106 patients were controls. Relative to controls, outcomes and process measures improved but lacked significance. Practice members identified barriers that prevented implementation of all changes needed but were in agreement that the pilot produced useful outcomes. A systematized, population-based, chronic care management service is feasible in a busy primary care practice. To test at scale, practice leadership will need to allocate staffing, invest in shared documentation, and standardize workflows to streamline office practice responsibilities.

Impact of Collaborative Shared Medical Appointments on Diabetes Outcomes in a Family Medicine Clinic

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a collaborative diabetes shared medical appointment on patient outcomes in an urban family medicine practice.

Methods

Fifty-nine patients were enrolled to participate in multiple shared medical appointments (SMAs) over 12 months. Baseline data included hemoglobin (A1C), lipids, systolic blood pressure (SBP), weight, adherence to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, and surveys, including the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID-2) scale and the Spoken Knowledge in Low Literacy in Diabetes Scale (SKILLD). A1C and SBP were evaluated at each visit. Lipid control was assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Adherence to ADA guidelines, SKILLD and PAID-2 survey scores, and number of antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive medications were also evaluated at 12 months.

Results

Thirty-eight patients completed the study. Compared with baseline, A1C and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased significantly over 12 months ( P < .001 and P = .004, respectively). More patients became compliant with the ADA guidelines throughout the course of the study. Specifically, more patients achieved the LDL-C goal of ≤100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L; P < .001), were prescribed appropriate antihypertensive medications ( P < .001) and aspirin ( P < .001), and received the pneumonia vaccine ( P < .001). PAID-2 and SKILLD survey scores also significantly improved over the course of the study ( P ≤ .001 and P = .003, respectively).

Conclusion

Short-term interdisciplinary SMAs decreased A1C and LDL-C, improved patient adherence to ADA guidelines, improved emotional distress related to diabetes, and increased knowledge of diabetes.

Public Health System-Delivered Mental Health Preventive Care Links to Significant Reduction of Health Care Costs

The objective was to estimate the association between health care expenditures and implementation of preventive mental health programs by local health departments (LHDs). Multilevel nationally representative data sets were linked to test the hypothesis that LHDs' provision of preventive mental health programs was associated with cost savings. A generalized linear model with log link and gamma distribution and state-fixed effects was used to estimate the association between LHDs' mental illness prevention services and total health care expenditures per person per year for adults aged 18 years and older. The main outcome measure was the annual total health care expenditure per person. The findings indicated that LHD provision of population-based prevention of mental illness was associated with an $824 reduction (95% confidence interval: -$1,562.94 to -$85.42, P < 0.05) in annual health care costs per person, after controlling for individual, LHD, community, and state characteristics. LHDs can play a critical role in establishing an integrated health care model. Their impact, however, has often been underestimated or neglected. Results showed that a small investment in LHDs may yield substantial cost savings at the societal level. The findings of this research are critical to inform policy decisions for the expansion of the Public Health 3.0 infrastructure.

Influence of Health Status on the Association Between Diabetes and Depression Among Adults in Europe: Findings From the SHARE International Survey

OBJECTIVE

The association between diabetes and depression, a common health comorbidity in people with diabetes, has been recognized but not well understood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between diabetes and depression in a large international sample of adults, adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, behavioral risks, and current health status.

METHODS

The association between diabetes and depression was assessed in a sample of 57,004 Europeans ≥50 years of age from 15 European countries using data from the fifth wave of SHARE (the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe). Multiple logistic regression models of the association between diabetes and depression were conducted, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Analyses showed that, despite diabetes being associated with depression in crude and partially adjusted models, further adjustment for self-perceived health made the association between diabetes and depression no longer statistically significant (odds ratio 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.0).

CONCLUSION

Adjustment for a variety of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral risk, and health status variables reduced the estimated association between diabetes and depression until it was no longer significant. Further research should explore the specific symptoms of distress characterized in people with diabetes.

Major depressive disorder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Prevalence and clinical characteristics

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We enrolled patients with at least one service claim for ambulatory or inpatient care with a principal diagnosis of MDD and at least two service claims for ambulatory care or one service claim for inpatient care with a principal diagnosis of T2DM, as listed in Taiwan's National Health Insurance database.

RESULTS

We enrolled 715,756 people from the general population (GP), 61,589 patients with T2DM but without MDD, and 778 patients with both T2DM and MDD. The prevalence of MDD increased from 0.70% to 1.25% in the patients with T2DM, whereas it increased from 0.25% to 0.67% in the GP from 2000 to 2010. The higher prevalence of MDD was associated with the female sex, residing in the southern regions of Taiwan, and having comorbidities of cerebrovascular disease and anxiety disorder as well as higher comorbidity severity (Charlson comorbidity index, 1-2 and > 2).

LIMITATIONS

One limitation is the use of secondary data on diagnoses of MDD and T2DM. Another limitation is that we could not access some crucial related variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of MDD was higher in the patients with T2DM than in the GP. In this study, the prevalence of MDD in the patients with T2DM was lower than that reported in Western countries.

Comparative Effectiveness of Coalitions Versus Technical Assistance for Depression Quality Improvement in Persons with Multiple Chronic Conditions

SIGNIFICANCE

Prior research suggests that Community Engagement and Planning (CEP) for coalition support compared with Resources for Services (RS) for program technical assistance to implement depression quality improvement programs improves 6- and 12-month client mental-health related quality of life (MHRQL); however, effects for clients with multiple chronic medical conditions (MCC) are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To explore effectiveness of CEP vs RS in MCC and non-MCC subgroups.

DESIGN

Secondary analyses of a cluster-randomized trial.

SETTING

93 health care and community-based programs in two neighborhoods.

PARTICIPANTS

Of 4,440 clients screened, 1,322 depressed (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ8) provided contact information, 1,246 enrolled and 1,018 (548 with ≥3 MCC) completed baseline, 6- or 12-month surveys.

INTERVENTION

CEP or RS for implementing depression quality improvement programs.

OUTCOMES AND ANALYSES

Primary: depression (PHQ9 <10), poor MHRQL (Short Form Health Survey, SF-12<40); Secondary: mental wellness, good physical health, behavioral health hospitalization, chronic homelessness risk, work/workloss days, services use at 6 and 12 months. End-point regressions were used to estimate intervention effects on outcomes for subgroups with ≥3 MCC, non-MCC, and intervention-by-MCC interactions (exploratory).

RESULTS

Among MCC clients at 6 months, CEP vs RS lowered likelihoods of depression and poor MHRQL; increased likelihood of mental wellness; reduced work-loss days among employed and likelihoods of ≥4 behavioral-health hospitalization nights and chronic homelessness risk, while increasing faith-based and park community center depression services; and at 12 months, likelihood of good physical health and park community center depression services use (each P<.05). There were no significant interactions or primary outcome effects for non-MCC.

CONCLUSIONS

CEP was more effective than RS in improving 6-month primary outcomes among depressed MCC clients, without significant interactions.

Effect of Psychiatric Illness on Acute Care Utilization at End of Life From Serious Medical Illness

CONTEXT

Little is known about psychiatric illness and utilization of end-of-life care.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that preexisting psychiatric illness would increase hospital utilization at end of life among patients with chronic medical illness due to increased severity of illness and care fragmentation.

METHODS

We reviewed electronic health records to identify decedents with one or more of eight chronic medical conditions based on International Classification of Diseases-9 codes. We used International Classification of Diseases-9 codes and prescription information to identify preexisting psychiatric illness. Regression models compared hospital utilization among patients with and without psychiatric illness. Path analyses examined the effect of severity of illness and care fragmentation.

RESULTS

Eleven percent of 16,214 patients with medical illness had preexisting psychiatric illness, which was associated with increased risk of death in nursing homes (P = 0.002) and decreased risk of death in hospitals (P < 0.001). In the last 30 days of life, psychiatric illness was associated with reduced inpatient and intensive care unit utilization but increased emergency department utilization. Path analyses confirmed an association between psychiatric illness and increased hospital utilization mediated by severity of illness and care fragmentation, but a stronger direct effect of psychiatric illness decreasing hospitalizations.

CONCLUSION

Our findings differ from the increased hospital utilization for patients with psychiatric illness in circumstances other than end-of-life care. Path analyses confirmed hypothesized associations between psychiatric illness and increased utilization mediated by severity of illness and care fragmentation but identified more powerful direct effects decreasing hospital use. Further investigation should examine whether this effect represents a disparity in access to preferred care.

The affective and somatic side of depression: subtypes of depressive symptoms show diametrically opposed associations with glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes

AIMS

While depression has been linked to serious adverse outcomes in diabetes, associations with glycemic control are not conclusive. Inconsistencies could be due to the complex symptomatology of depression. Aim of this study was to analyze the associations of depressive subtypes with glycemic control in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Patients completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale which comprises affective, somatic, and anhedonic symptoms. These subtypes were analyzed in a joint linear regression analysis with glycemic control as a dependent variable. Subtype scores were calculated as mean item scores. Separate analyses for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were conducted. All analyses were controlled for demographic and medical confounders.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 604 patients with type 1 and 382 patients with type 2 diabetes. In people with type 1 diabetes, the somatic and affective subtype showed diametrically opposed associations with glycemic control (somatic: β =+0.23, p < .05; affective: β = -0.23, p < .05). Anhedonia was not significantly associated with glycemic control. In people with type 2 diabetes, none of the depressive subtypes was significantly associated with glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

For people with type 1 diabetes, the distinction of subtypes offered a detailed picture of the associations of depressive symptoms with glycemic control. However, due to the cross-sectional design, inferences about the direction of these associations cannot be made. In clinical practice, instead of focusing on overall depression, healthcare providers should examine the nature of depressive symptoms and how they might be related to having diabetes.