Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression with Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease: A Selective Systematic Review from India

Context: Non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes) and comorbid common mental disorders are of public health concern because of their high morbidity and mortality rates. The authors undertook a systematic review of studies that reported the prevalence of common mental disorders among non-communicable diseases, specifically in India. Evidence acquisition: Relevant databases (Medline, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and ProQuest) were searched until May 2021. Descriptive and observation studies from the mentioned databases were included. Evidence synthesis: Of the total 6,515 studies, the electronic literature search identified 4,307 studies. Manual cross-referencing identified an additional 2,208 studies. Only 17 studies met the criteria and were included for the review. Findings: Twelves studies focused on the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with diabetes, three studies focused on cardiovascular disease, two on non-communicable diseases, and one on the prevalence of depression in hypertension. The range of the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depression was 3.9–44% and 8–44%, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of anxiety and depression is seen in people with diabetes, indicating these are of serious public health concerns in India.