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. 2023 Mar 1;46(3):579-586.
doi: 10.2337/dc22-1237.

Age at Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Depressive Symptoms, Diabetes-Specific Distress, and Self-Compassion

Mary M Barker  1 , Melanie J Davies  1   2   3 , Francesco Zaccardi  1 , Emer M Brady  1   3 , Andrew P Hall  1   4 , Joseph J Henson  1   3 , Kamlesh Khunti  1   2   5 , Amelia Lake  6   7 , Emma L Redman  2   3 , Alex V Rowlands  1   3 , Jane Speight  6   7 , Tom Yates  1   3 , Jack A Sargeant  1   2   3 , Michelle Hadjiconstantinou  1
Affiliations

Age at Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes and Depressive Symptoms, Diabetes-Specific Distress, and Self-Compassion

Mary M Barker et al. Diabetes Care. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific distress, and self-compassion among adults with type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: This analysis used data from the Chronotype of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Effect on Glycemic Control (CODEC) cross-sectional study. Information was collected on depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific distress, and self-compassion, measured using validated self-report questionnaires, in addition to sociodemographic and clinical data. Multivariable regression models, adjusted for diabetes duration, sex, ethnicity, deprivation status, prescription of antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and BMI were used to investigate the association between age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and each of the three psychological outcomes.

Results: A total of 706 participants were included; 64 (9.1%) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at <40 years, 422 (59.8%) between 40 and 59 years, and 220 (31.2%) at ≥60 years of age. After adjustment for key confounders, including diabetes duration, younger age at diagnosis was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (βadj: -0.18 [95% CI -0.25 to -0.10]; P < 0.01) and diabetes-specific distress (βadj: -0.03 [95% CI -0.04 to -0.02]; P < 0.01) and lower levels of self-compassion (βadj: 0.01 [95% CI 0.00 to 0.02]; P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at a younger age is associated with lower psychological well-being, suggesting the need for clinical vigilance and the availability of age-appropriate psychosocial support.

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Conflict of interest statement

Duality of Interest. M.J.D. has acted as consultant, advisory board member, and speaker for Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi; an advisory board member and speaker for AstraZeneca; an advisory board member for Janssen, Lexicon, Pfizer, and ShouTi Pharma Inc; and as a speaker for Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Inc.; and has received grants in support of investigator and investigator-initiated trials from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. K.K. has acted as consultant, advisory board member, and speaker for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Berlin-Chemie AG/Menarini Group, Sanofi, Servier Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim; and has received European Academy of Continuing Medical Education grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Servier Pharmaceuticals. T.Y. and J.A.S. are supported by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and have received project funding in the form of an investigator-initiated grant from AstraZeneca.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Median values (shown as black lines) and distribution of total depressive symptoms (score range: 0–27) (A), overall diabetes-specific distress (score range: 0–6) (B), and overall self-compassion (score range: 0–5) (C) by age at type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Regression model of association between age of diagnosis and total depressive symptom score (A), overall diabetes distress score (B), and overall self-compassion score (C), by duration of diabetes (blue, 5 years; red, 10 years; green, 15 years; and orange, 20 years).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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