<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction:</bold> The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes-related distress (DRD) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).<bold>Material and Methods:</bold> This was an analysis of data previously obtained from two cross-sectional studies, in which medical charts review and direct interviews were employed to obtain medical and demographic data. Vital status assessment and anthropometric measurements were performed. The patients filled out specific questionnaires for DRD (DDS-17), symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), and of anxiety (GAD-7). A clinical meaningful threshold for DRD was set at ≥2.0 points. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, number of chronic complications, therapy for T2DM, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic parameters, as well as demographic, socio-economic data, and lifestyle habits were evaluated as factors possibly associated with DRD by univariate and multiple regression analyses.<bold>Results:</bold> A total of 271 patients with T2DM were included in this analysis, of whom 25.1% presented a DDS-17 score ≥2 points (and 9.96% a DDS-17 score ≥3). Subjects with a DDS-17 score ≥2 had higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.018), PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores (p &lt;0.0001 for both). The multiple regression model indicated that anxiety (p = 0.026), depression (p = 0.001), and ethnicity (p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with DRD (p &lt;0.0001). With regards to subscales, the HbA1c (p = 0.005) and PHQ-9 score (p &lt;0.0001) were significantly associated with emotional burden, ethnicity (p = 0.001) and depression (p = 0.004) with regimen-related distress, whereas ethnicity (p = 0.010) and GAD-7 score (p = 0.012) with interpersonal distress.<bold>Conclusions:</bold> Psychosocial factors like depression, anxiety, or ethnicity significantly contribute to DRD in patients with T2DM, and worse glycemic control is associated with emotional burden.</abstract>

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes-related distress (DRD) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Material and Methods: This was an analysis of data previously obtained from two cross-sectional studies, in which medical charts review and direct interviews were employed to obtain medical and demographic data. Vital status assessment and anthropometric measurements were performed. The patients filled out specific questionnaires for DRD (DDS-17), symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), and of anxiety (GAD-7). A clinical meaningful threshold for DRD was set at ≥2.0 points. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, number of chronic complications, therapy for T2DM, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic parameters, as well as demographic, socio-economic data, and lifestyle habits were evaluated as factors possibly associated with DRD by univariate and multiple regression analyses.Results: A total of 271 patients with T2DM were included in this analysis, of whom 25.1% presented a DDS-17 score ≥2 points (and 9.96% a DDS-17 score ≥3). Subjects with a DDS-17 score ≥2 had higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.018), PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores (p <0.0001 for both). The multiple regression model indicated that anxiety (p = 0.026), depression (p = 0.001), and ethnicity (p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with DRD (p <0.0001). With regards to subscales, the HbA1c (p = 0.005) and PHQ-9 score (p <0.0001) were significantly associated with emotional burden, ethnicity (p = 0.001) and depression (p = 0.004) with regimen-related distress, whereas ethnicity (p = 0.010) and GAD-7 score (p = 0.012) with interpersonal distress.Conclusions: Psychosocial factors like depression, anxiety, or ethnicity significantly contribute to DRD in patients with T2DM, and worse glycemic control is associated with emotional burden.

Factors Associated with Diabetes-Related Distress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology

Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes-related distress (DRD) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus...

Factors Associated with Diabetes-Related Distress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Published Online: Oct 14, 2021

Page range: 138 - 145

Received: Jun 19, 2021

Accepted: Jun 30, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2021-0027

Keywords
type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetes-related distress, depression, anxiety

© 2021 Karla Duka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Factors Associated with Diabetes-Related Distress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Published Online: Oct 14, 2021

Page range: 138 - 145

Received: Jun 19, 2021

Accepted: Jun 30, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jim-2021-0027

Keywordstype 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetes-related distress, depression, anxiety

© 2021 Karla Duka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetes-related distress, depression, anxiety