Diabetes-related symptom distress in association with glucose metabolism and co-morbidity: the Hoorn Study
- Marcel C. Adriaanse, PhD (marcel.adriaanse{at}falw.vu.nl)1,
- Frans Pouwer, PhD2,3,
- Jacqueline M. Dekker, PhD2,
- Giel Nijpels, MD, PhD2,4,
- Coen D. Stehouwer, MD, PhD5,
- Robert J. Heine, MD, PhD2,6 and
- Frank J. Snoek, PhD2,3
- 1Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 2EMGO Institute
- 3Department of Medical Psychology
- 4Department of General Practice
- 6Department of Endocrinology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 5Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Abstract
Objective: To determine the associations between diabetes-related symptoms distress, glucose metabolism status, and co-morbidities of type 2 diabetes.
Research design and methods: Cross-sectional sample of 281 normal glucose metabolism (NGM), 181 impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) and, 107 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). We used the Type 2 Diabetes Symptom Checklist (DSC-R) to assess diabetes-related symptom distress.
Results: Total symptom distress score (range 0-100) was relatively low for DM2 (mean 8.4 ± 9.4) subjects, though significantly different from IGM (mean 6.5 ± 7.1) and NGM (mean 6.1 ± 7.9) (F = 3.1, df = 2, P = 0.046). Ischemic heart disease was associated with elevated DSC-R scores on three subscales, while depression showed higher symptom distress levels across all DSC-R domains.
Conclusion: Worsening glucose metabolism is associated with increasing diabetes-related symptom distress. This relationship is attenuated by ischemic heart disease and particularly by depression.
Footnotes
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- Received June 13, 2008.
- Accepted August 15, 2008.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
