Depression among elderly diabetics at Peripheral health centres attached to a private medical college in Coimbatore: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Depression is an illness that may affect and be affected by diabetes mellitus. Depression is an independent risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The clinical guidelines for older adults with diabetes mellitus have recognized this by recommending screening for and management of depression in diabetic elderly people. Aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression using PHQ -9 questionnaire among elderly diabetics in peripheral primary health care centres attached to a Private medical college.Objectives:     1. To assess the proportion of patients with depression among elderly diabetics attending the NCD clinic of peripheral health centres using PHQ-9 questionnaire 2. To find out the factors associated with depression among elderly diabetics Methodology:This cross sectional study was conducted among known diabetics above 60 yrs of age attending the NCD clinic of Peripheral health centres at Peelamedu, Vedapatti, Neelambur during December 2017 – April 2018. By purposive sampling, 104 elderly diabetics those come for review during the study period at NCD clinic were selected. The socio demographic factors i.e. age, gender, education, income per capita per month and morbidity factors such as fasting blood sugar, duration of diabetes, history of hypertension, past history of diabetes related complications, hours of sleep were included to find out the association with  levels of depression. Statistical analysis: Proportions, test of statistical significance (Chi square) and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) using SPSS version 24Results: Among the study population, 40.4 % were having the signs of depression  in which the majority have only minimal symptoms of depression. The factors such as Female Gender, Fasting blood sugar >126 mg/dl and hours of sleep < 7 hours found to be statistically significant association with depression in the present study.Conclusion:The prevalence of depression using PHQ 9 is 40.4% and the factors such as female gender, fasting blood sugar more than 127 mg/dl and sleep at night less than 7 hours were found to have statistically significant association with depression.