Diabetes, Depression, and Quality of Life
A population study
- Robert D. Goldney, MD,
- Pat J. Phillips, MA,
- Laura J. Fisher, BA HONS and
- David H. Wilson, PHD
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, The Adelaide Clinic, Park Terrace, Gilberton, South Australia
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Robert Goldney, Department of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, The Adelaide Clinic, Park Terrace, Gilberton, South Australia 5081. E-mail: robert.goldney{at}adelaide.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes and depression and their associations with quality of life using a representative population sample.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The study consisted of a representative population sample of individuals aged ≥15 years living in South Australia comprising 3,010 personal interviews conducted by trained health interviewers. The prevalence of depression in those suffering doctor-diagnosed diabetes and comparative effects of diabetic status and depression on quality-of-life dimensions were measured.
RESULTS—The prevalence of depression in the diabetic population was 24% compared with 17% in the nondiabetic population. Those with diabetes and depression experienced an impact with a large effect size on every dimension of the Short Form Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SF-36) as compared with those who suffered diabetes and who were not depressed. A supplementary analysis comparing both depressed diabetic and depressed nondiabetic groups showed there were statistically significant differences in the quality-of-life effects between the two depressed populations in the physical and mental component summaries of the SF-36.
CONCLUSIONS—Depression for those with diabetes is an important comorbidity that requires careful management because of its severe impact on quality of life.
- MCS, Mental Components Summary
- PCS, Physical Components Summary
- SAHOS, South Australian Health Omnibus Survey
- SF-36, Short Form Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire
Footnotes
-
R.D.G. has been on an advisory panel for Sanofi Synthelabo; has received honoraria from Sanofi Synthelabo, Pfizer Australia, and Organon; and has received grant support from Wyeth Australia and Pfizer Australia. P.J.P. has been on advisory panels for AstraZeneca, Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Parke Davis; has received honoraria from Abbott, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Roche; and has received grant support from Bristol Meyer Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi-Synthelabo, and Takeda. D.H.W. has received honoraria from Wyeth Australia and Pfizer Australia for the analysis of the data in this study.
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
-
- Accepted January 22, 2004.
- Received July 14, 2003.
- DIABETES CARE
