Title

Depression in Patients with Diabetes: Does It Impact Clinical Goals?

Department/School

Social Work

Date of this version

2008

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070101

Abstract

Introduction: To examine whether depressive symptoms are associated with achievement of recommended goals for control of glucose, lipids, and blood pressure among patients with diabetes. Methods: We used a prospective cohort study of 1223 adults with diabetes that obtained self-reported depression symptoms from a survey. Medication use was obtained from claims data, and pharmacy and clinical data were obtained by manual review of paper medical records. Results: Diabetes patients with depression symptoms were less likely to be at their glucose goal (43% vs 50%; P = .0176) but more likely to be at their blood pressure goal (57% vs 51%; P = .0435). The association between lipids and depression symptoms was related to a lower rate for low-density lipoprotein testing (56% vs 68%; P < .0001). Treatment with antidepressants resulted in a greater percentage achieving glucose and blood pressure goals but not lipid goals. Conclusions: Depression seems to have a variable impact on achieving these clinical goals, perhaps because the goals have differing measurement logistics and biological profiles. Further research is needed to learn whether better treatment of depressive symptoms leads to improvements in meeting diabetes clinical goals.

Volume

21

Issue

5

Published in

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

Citation/Other Information

Rush, W. A., Whitebird, R. R., Rush, M. R., Solberg, L. I., & O’Connor, P. J. (2008). Depression in patients with diabetes: Does it impact clinical goals? Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 21(5), 392-397. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070101

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