Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Depression is a common co-morbidity among people with diabetes that reduces quality of life and is associated with morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. We aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among patients with type 2 diabetes in two Arabic nations, Egypt and Yemen and to examine its relationship with socio-demographic data and diabetes complications.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on 200 subjects with type 2 diabetes, divided into two groups: 100 Egyptian and 100 Yemeni subjects. All selected subjects were subjected to full medical history and clinical examination. Laboratory tests included fasting plasma glucose and HbA1C. MADRS scale was used for diagnosis of depression.

Results: Both groups were age and sex matched. The prevalence of depression was 39% in Egyptian and 34% of Yemeni patients, with no statistical significance. In Egyptian diabetics, depression was significantly associated with female gender, duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, higher number of children, low and very low socioeconomic levels, high mean number of cigarette smoking, lower mean number of years of education and presence of diabetes complications. However, in Yemeni diabetics, depression was significantly associated with female gender, birth order, poor glycemic control, Low and very low socioeconomic levels, lower mean number of years of education, diuretic usage for medical co-morbidities. The most important predictors of depression were female sex, higher number of children, divorce, Low and very low socioeconomic levels and lower mean number of years of education.

Conclusion: High prevalence of depression among Egyptian and Yemeni type 2 diabetic patients. Depression associated with poor glycemic control.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; depression; Egyptian; Yamani.