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. 2010 Feb;33(2):264-9.
doi: 10.2337/dc09-1068. Epub 2009 Nov 23.

Depression and advanced complications of diabetes: a prospective cohort study

Elizabeth H B Lin  1 , Carolyn M Rutter, Wayne Katon, Susan R Heckbert, Paul Ciechanowski, Malia M Oliver, Evette J Ludman, Bessie A Young, Lisa H Williams, David K McCulloch, Michael Von Korff
Affiliations

Depression and advanced complications of diabetes: a prospective cohort study

Elizabeth H B Lin et al. Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To prospectively examine the association of depression with risks for advanced macrovascular and microvascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: A longitudinal cohort of 4,623 primary care patients with type 2 diabetes was enrolled in 2000-2002 and followed through 2005-2007. Advanced microvascular complications included blindness, end-stage renal disease, amputations, and renal failure deaths. Advanced macrovascular complications included myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular procedures, and deaths. Medical record review, ICD-9 diagnostic and procedural codes, and death certificate data were used to ascertain outcomes in the 5-year follow-up. Proportional hazard models analyzed the association between baseline depression and risks of adverse outcomes.

Results: After adjustment for prior complications and demographic, clinical, and diabetes self-care variables, major depression was associated with significantly higher risks of adverse microvascular outcomes (hazard ratio 1.36 [95% CI 1.05-1.75]) and adverse macrovascular outcomes (1.24 [1.0-1.54]).

Conclusions: Among people with type 2 diabetes, major depression is associated with an increased risk of clinically significant microvascular and macrovascular complications over the ensuing 5 years, even after adjusting for diabetes severity and self-care activities. Clinical and public health significance of these findings rises as the incidence of type 2 diabetes soars. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms for this association and to test interventions to reduce the risk of diabetes complications among patients with comorbid depression.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathways Epidemiologic Follow-Up sample recruitment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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