Depressed diabetics face other health problems--study
POSTED January 30, 2010 - 15:52 | POSTED BY Neha Jindal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on January 30, 2010 - 16:15
The researchers at University of Washington found that chronic depression was linked to a 36 percent increased risk of micro-vascular complications like severe kidney disease and loss of sight in patients with diabetes and depression, in contrast to diabetics without depression.
The research also revealed a 25 percent higher risk of macro-vascular problems like stroke or myocardial infarction--interruption of blood to the heart resulting in heart attack--in such patients.
3723 people studied
The Pathways Epidemiological Follow-up Study registered 4,632 patients with diabetes between the years 2000 and 2002.
The research team from University of Washington traced these patients in the years 2005 and 2007 and finally examined 3723 patients with type 2 diabetes.
The research team analyzed health records, diagnostic policies, medical prescriptions and death certificates of the patients to validate alterations in their health over a span of five years.
The team found that diabetics with no prior warning signs of micro-vascular or macro-vascular problems increased their risk of falling prey to such diseases, owing to depression.
The team also established that diabetic patients with depression tended to be younger, obese and suffering from other problems too, compared to diabetics without depression.
People with major depression were more likely women and smokers, the study revealed.
The researchers advised further research for concrete findings though.
“Further research is needed to clarify the underlying biological mechanism for the association between depression and complications of diabetes, and to test interventions which might be effective in lowering the risk of complications among patients who have both diabetes and depression,” said lead author Elizabeth Lin, MD, Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
Link between diabetes and depression
Studies over the past also have shown a co-relation between diabetes and depression. Diabetic patients tend to be depressed and vice versa.
“Impairment from diabetes such as blindness or kidney failure requiring long-term dialysis interferes with a person’s daily life and can be overwhelming,” said the study authors.
Such a condition often leaves the person dejected, and might exacerbate an existing depression.
The details of the study appear in the journal Diabetes Care.
