Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly Population Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Beata Dziedzic, Zofia Sienkiewicz, Anna Leńczuk-Gruba, Ewa Kobos, Wiesław Fidecki and Mariusz Wysokiski
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Beata Dziedzic: Department of Development of Nursing and Social & Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
Zofia Sienkiewicz: Department of Development of Nursing and Social & Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
Anna Leńczuk-Gruba: Department of Development of Nursing and Social & Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
Ewa Kobos: Department of Development of Nursing and Social & Medical Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 01-445 Warsaw, Poland
Wiesław Fidecki: Department of Basic Nursing and Medical Teaching, Chair of Development in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Mariusz Wysokiski: Department of Basic Nursing and Medical Teaching, Chair of Development in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-9

Abstract: Introduction: A sharp rise in the population of elderly people, who are more prone to somatic and mental diseases, combined with the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes-associated complications in this age group, have an impact on the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Aim of the work: The work of the study was the evaluation of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly population diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: The pilot study was conducted in 2019 among 200 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged 65 years and above, receiving treatment in a specialist diabetes outpatient clinic. The study was based on a questionnaire aimed at collecting basic sociodemographic and clinical data and the complete geriatric depression scale (GDS, by Yesavage) consisting of 30 questions. Results: The study involved 200 patients receiving treatment in a diabetes outpatient clinic. The mean age of the study subjects was 71.4 ± 5.0 years. The vast majority of the subjects (122; 61%) were women, with men accounting for 39% of the study population (78 subjects). A statistically significant difference in the GDS ( p < 0.01) was shown for marital status, body mass index (BMI), duration of diabetes, and the number of comorbidities. Patients with results indicative of symptoms of mild and severe depression were found to have higher BMI, longer disease duration, and a greater number of comorbidities. There were no statistically significant differences in the level of HbA1c. Conclusions: In order to verify the presence of depressive symptoms in the group of geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus, an appropriate screening programme must be introduced to identify those at risk and refer them to specialists, so that treatment can be promptly initiated. Screening tests conducted by nurses might help with patient identification.

Keywords: depression; type 2 diabetes; elderly people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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