Association between depression and diabetes in the South-Eastern zone of the state of Uttar Pradesh-India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Depression is among the most common mental health problems among people with chronic complications like type 2 diabetes mellitus is brought on by flaws in insulin secretion and activity; however, genetic factors also play a role in both insulin resistance and beta-cell failure, but environmental factors also play a role in aggravating both problems. The presence of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes may interfere with treatment and efficacy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression in this metabolic variant clinical condition, type 2 diabetes mellitus, in major tertiary care hospitals in the South-Eastern Uttar Pradesh cities of Allahabad and Varanasi. Subjects and methods: For this study, 206 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from rural and urban areas were recruited. Demographic, clinical, and diabetes-related data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9), a standardized questionnaire developed in the United States and validated in the Indian population. Results: The prevalence of depression in diabetics in the community was 43.2%. The most common type of depression was mild (29.3%, 26), and the least common was severe depression (3, 3.37%). Several factors were associated with depression in the female gender: living in a rural area, unemployment, and being single. The complications of diabetes and other chronic conditions, such as hypertension and obesity, are also associated with depression. Conclusion: Depression was found to be particularly high in the study population. Because depression can significantly impede patient adherence to treatment, there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and treatment. This requires integrating mental health care for diabetes patients. Keywords: prevalence; diabetes; depression; community; higher rate