Diabetes mellitus and risk of subsequent depression: a longitudinal study

Metabolic Profile and Long-Term Risk of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-Related Disorders

Importance

Biomarkers of lipid, apolipoprotein, and carbohydrate metabolism have been previously suggested to be associated with the risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, but results are inconsistent.

Objective

To examine whether the biomarkers of carbohydrate, lipid, and apolipoprotein metabolism are associated with the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study with longitudinal data collection assessed 211 200 participants from the Apolipoprotein-Related Mortality Risk (AMORIS) cohort who underwent occupational health screening between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1996, mainly in the Stockholm region in Sweden. Statistical analysis was performed during 2022 to 2023.

Exposures

Lipid, apolipoprotein, and carbohydrate biomarkers measured in blood.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The associations between biomarker levels and the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders through the end of 2020 were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression models. In addition, nested case-control analyses were conducted within the cohort, including all incident cases of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, and up to 10 control individuals per case who were individually matched to the case by year of birth, sex, and year of enrollment to the AMORIS cohort, using incidence density sampling. Population trajectories were used to illustrate the temporal trends in biomarker levels for cases and controls.

Results

A total of 211 200 individuals (mean [SD] age at first biomarker measurement, 42.1 [12.6] years; 122 535 [58.0%] male; 188 895 [89.4%] born in Sweden) participated in the study. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 21.0 (6.7) years, a total of 16 256 individuals were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders. High levels of glucose (hazard ratio [HR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.41) and triglycerides (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.20) were associated with an increased subsequent risk of all tested psychiatric disorders, whereas high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97) were associated with a reduced risk. These results were similar for male and female participants as well as for all tested disorders. The nested case-control analyses demonstrated that patients with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders had higher levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol during the 20 years preceding diagnosis, as well as higher levels of apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein B during the 10 years preceding diagnosis, compared with control participants.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of more than 200 000 participants, high levels of glucose and triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein were associated with future risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. These findings may support closer follow-up of individuals with metabolic dysregulations for the prevention and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.

Longitudinal investigation of the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and glycemic control: The moderation effects of sex and perceived support

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The present study investigated the longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and glycemic control in nationally representative adults with type 2 diabetes, and tested the effects of sex and perceived family support in moderating this association.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults who participated in the 2002 and 2006 Health and Retirement Study, and the 2003 and 2006 Diabetes Study (n = 398), we applied a cross-lagged structural equation model to examine the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and glycemic control over a 3-year period.

RESULTS

Men and women were not different in terms of the depressive symptoms and glycemic control relationship, with a stronger association noted for higher depressive symptom scores predicting worse glycemic control (β = 0.22, critical ratio 3.03), as opposed to worse glycemic control predicting higher depressive symptom scores. Family and friend support for diabetes self-management serves as an important buffer. In patients with low family and friend support, more depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with subsequent worse glycemic levels (β = 0.36, critical ratio 4.03). In contrast, in individuals who had strong support, depressive symptoms did not predict subsequent glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provided evidence for the relationship between glycemic control and depression, finding that depressive symptoms predicted poorly controlled glycemic status, especially when the participants perceived inadequate support from their family or friends. A quick survey in clinics to assess the level of family or friend support for diabetes management and depressive symptoms might be an important part of individualized diabetic care.

Schneider B, I. Twersky J. Implementing and feasibility testing depression screening using the electronic medical record for patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the hospital

AIM

Is it feasible to implement a programme to screen for depression in patients admitted to the hospital for diabetes complications and use the electronic medical record to notify providers of their patient's depression score and give suggestions for medication and counselling?

DESIGN

A feasibility study was conducted with patients hospitalized with diabetes and depression in the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.

METHODS

Patients with type 2 diabetes were screened for depression. The healthcare provider was notified via the electronic medical record about the patients' depression scores. The provider discussed options for management of depression with the patient and initiated treatment.

RESULTS

The process of screening for depression at admission, notifying the provider by way of electronic medical record that the patient screened positive for depression with suggestions for medication and counseling was feasible and acceptable to providers and patients.

Risk of Depression and Suicidality among Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the risk of depression and suicidality among diabetic patients.

METHODS

Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Psych INFO were searched for studies published from 2008 onwards. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled effect size. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated by subgroup analysis and meta-regression.

RESULTS

In total, 5750 articles were identified and of those, 17 studies on suicidality and 36 on depression were included in this study. Our analysis suggests a positive relationship between diabetes and depression (cohort studies odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36⁻1.64 and cross-sectional studies OR 2.04, 95% CI, 1.73⁻2.42). Pooled OR values for suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and completed suicide were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.36⁻2.63), 1.45 (95% CI: 1.07⁻1.96), and 1.85 (95% CI: 0.97⁻3.52), respectively. All findings were statistically significant except for completed suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased risk of depression and suicidality in diabetic patients highlights the importance of integrating the evaluation and treatment of depression with diabetes management in primary healthcare settings. Further research in this area is needed.

A Cross Sectional Examination of the Relation Between Depression and Frequency of Leisure Time Physical Exercise among the Elderly in Jinan, China

Depression has become a major global public health problem. Many studies have shown the positive effects of physical exercise on depression. However, few studies have examined the relationship between frequency of leisure time physical exercise and depression without considering the time and intensity of exercise among middle-aged and elderly people of urban communities in northern China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 1604 participants among urban residents aged 50 years or older in China to evaluate how the frequency of physical exercise was related to depression. Our study showed that the prevalence of depression in the urban community of Jinan is 16.52%. For physical exercise, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 1~2 times per week, 3~4 times per week and ≥5 times per week were 1.137 (0.661, 1.953), 0.516 (0.304, 0.875) and 0.548 (0.392, 0.768) respectively, with adjustment for age, gender, marital status, BMI, hypertension, previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes, triglyceride, total cholesterol, soy food intake, milk food intake, vegetable and fruit intake and meat intake. We concluded that physically exercising three times a week is associated with a low prevalence of depression.

Prevalence and influencing factors of co-morbid depression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a General Hospital based study

BACKGROUND

Depression and diabetes have been recognized as major public health issues in China, however, no studies to date examined the factors associated with the development of depression in patients with diabetes in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of co-morbid depression among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and to examine the influence factors of co-morbid depression in a group of patients with type 2 DM.

METHODS

The study was conducted from March l to May 31, 2012, in the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). A systematic random sample of 412 type 2 DM patients aged over 18 years was selected. A structured questionnaire was used for collecting the information about socio-demographic data, lifestyle factors and clinical characteristics. Depression and social support was evaluated by using the Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS), respectively. Weights and heights were measured. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was abstracted from each patient directly after the interview.

RESULTS

Of the total sample, 142 patients had depression according to the BDI scores (BDI scores ≥14), the prevalence of co-morbid depression in this study population was 5.7 % (142/2500). Of which, 56 had major depression (BDI ≥ 21), and 86 had moderate depression (BDI ≥ 14&BDI < 21). Logistic regression analysis indicated that a high HbA1c level, a high BMI, low quality health insurance, and being single, were significantly associated with the development of depression. However, a family history of diabetes and a high social support level are likely protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of co-morbid depression was 5.7 % among Chinese subjects with type 2 DM in this study. High HbA1c level, high BMI score, being single, low social support level, and low quality health insurance were associated with the presence of depression. These findings support a recommendation for routine screening and management in China for depression in patients with diabetes, especially for those in primary care, to reduce the number of the depressed or the misrecognized depressed diabetic patients.

Physical health and gender as risk factors for usage of services for mental illness

Background

People with comorbid mental and physical illness (PI) experience worse health, inadequate care and increased mortality relative to those without mental illness (MI). The role of gender in this relationship is not fully understood. This study examined gender differences in onset of mental health service usage among people with physical illness (COPD, asthma, hypertension and type II diabetes) compared with a control cohort.

Methods

We used a unique linked dataset consisting of the 2000–2001 Canadian Community Health Survey and medical records (n=17 050) to examine risk of onset of MI among those with and without PI among Ontario residents (18–74 years old) over a 10-year period (2002–2011). Adjusted COX proportional survival analysis was conducted.

Results

Unadjusted use of MI medical services in the PI cohort was 55.6% among women and 44.7% (p=0.0001) among men; among controls 48.1% of the women and 36.7% of the men used MI medical services (p=0.0001). The relative risk of usage among women in the PI group relative to controls was 1.16. Among men, the relative risk was 1.22. Women were 1.45 times more likely to use MI medical services relative to men (HR=1.45, CI 1.35 to 1.55). Respondents in the PI cohort were 1.32 times more likely to use MI medical services (HR=1.32, CI 1.23 to 1.42) relative to controls. Women in the PI cohort used MI medical services 6.4 months earlier than PI males (p=0.0059). In the adjusted model, women with PI were most likely to use MI medical services, followed by women controls, men with PI and men controls. There was no significant interaction between gender and PI cohort.

Conclusions

Further, gender-based research focusing on onset of usage of MI services among those with and without chronic health problems will enable better understanding of gender-based health disparities to improve healthcare quality, delivery and public health policy.

Population impact of depression either as a risk factor or consequence of type 2 diabetes in adults: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

This meta-analysis examined the reciprocal relationship between depression and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) by conducting a bias adjusted meta-analysis of longitudinal studies using relative and absolute risk estimates. Specifically, the data were reconstructed to compute relative risk (RR), risk difference (RD), and the number needed to be exposed for one additional person to be harmed (NNEH) or benefited (NNEB). The 25 studies selected for review generated 29 datasets of which 15 examined endpoint A (depression as a risk factor for T2DM), and 14 examined endpoint B (T2DM as a risk factor for depression). For both endpoints, there was a small relative risk increase (for both the RR and hazard ratio (HR)) though with significant heterogeneity between studies. This however translated to a non-significant NNEH of 87 (NNEB 161 to ∞ to NNEH 35) and NNEH of 233 (NNEB 28 to ∞ to NNEH 23) for studies examining endpoint A and endpoint B respectively. This study suggests that the magnitude of the relative risk increase for depression as a risk factor or consequence of T2DM is small without significant impact on absolute risk indices. While these risks may be considered in terms of individual patient management, they are unlikely to have an impact on a population perspective.

Resistance to depression through interference of opioid and nitrergic systems in bile-duct ligated mice

This study was done to investigate the effects of opioid and nitrergic systems on depression in an experimental model of cholestasis in mice, since elevated levels of these substances are seen in cholestatic subjects. Bile duct ligated (BDL) and sham-operated mice were forced to swim individually and the immobility time in the last 4 min of the 6 min test was evaluated to determine the effects of cholestasis on depression. To assess the possible involvement of endogenous opioids and nitric oxide (NO), effective and sub-effective doses of naltrexone an antagonist of opioid receptors, and N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) a non-specific NO synthase inhibitor, were administrated acutely and chronically to BDL and Sham-operated mice and then their immobility time was measured in forced swimming test (FST). The immobility time significantly decreased after bile-duct ligation. Naltrexone and L-NAME significantly reversed antidepressant like effect of cholestasis. Co-administration of sub-effective doses of naltrexone and L-NAME also reversed antidepressant effect in FST in chronic administration. But acute drug administration did not reverse the anti-depressant effect of cholestasis. We have shown that elevated levels of endogenous opioids and NO in cholestatic mice induce an anti depressant like effect, causing a reduction in the mice immobility time in FST. And the study also showed the predominant effect of opioid system and NO modulation of that in anti-depressant like effect of cholestasis.

Contributions of diabetic macro-vascular complications and hip fracture to depression onset in elderly patients with diabetes: an 8-year population-based follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively examine the roles of diabetic macro-vascular complications and hip fracture in association with depression onset in Taiwan's elderly diabetic population.

METHODS

A representative sample of elderly diabetic patients (n=144,216) identified in 2000 were linked to National Health Insurance claims (2000-2007) to ascertain the diagnoses of depression in both outpatient and inpatient settings. The person-year approach with Poisson assumption was used to estimate the hazard rates. Using Cox proportional hazard regression model, we evaluated the relative risk of depression in relation to diabetic macro-vascular complications and hip fracture. The additive effects from the above medical conditions were also assessed.

RESULTS

The 8-year cumulative risk of depression was 5.08%, representing an incidence density of 8.40 per 1000 patient-years. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the elderly diabetes associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), hip fracture, and lower extremity amputation was 1.13 (1.04-1.23), 1.10 (0.91-1.34), and 1.25 (0.95-1.65), respectively. Additionally, we found that the more the complications or hip fracture, the higher the risk of depression onset in elderly diabetes.

CONCLUSION

The increased number of diabetic macro-vascular complications and hip fracture is significantly associated with a higher risk of depression onset in elderly diabetes. Future studies should be conducted to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of intensive depression screening program in elderly diabetes suffering from macro-vascular complications and hip fracture.