Depressive symptoms predicted future diet, physical activity, and glucose testing (P<0.05), whereas diabetes-related distress predicted glycemic control (P<0.001) and medication adherence (P=0.011).
Cohort (n=253)
Do depressive symptoms and diabetes-related distress differentially predict medication adherence, self-care behaviors, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Depressive symptoms and diabetes-related distress predict different behavioral and medical outcomes in type 2 diabetes, suggesting clinical assessment should encompass both.
OBJECTIVE: Cross-sectional studies link both depressive symptoms (DS) and diabetes-related distress (DRD) to diabetes self-management and/or glycemic control. However, longitudinal studies of these variables are rare, and their results are somewhat conflicting. The study objective was to compare DS and DRD as longitudinal predictors of medication adherence, self-care behavior, and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Primary care patients with type 2 diabetes reported DS, DRD, and other variables at baseline were studied. Medication adherence, self-care behaviors (diet, physical activity, and glucose testing), and glycemic control (HbA(1c)) were assessed 6 months later (n = 253). Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression analyses were used to model behavioral and medical outcomes as a function of baseline confounders, DS, and DRD. RESULTS: Adjusted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses yielded very similar results. In the latter, only DS were significantly associated with future diet behavior (P = 0.049), physical activity (P = 0.001), and glucose testing (P = 0.018). In contrast, only DRD predicted future glycemic control (P < 0.001) and medication adherence (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Distress-outcome associations seem to vary by type of distress under consideration. Only DS predicts future lifestyle-oriented self-management behaviors. In contrast, only DRD predicts glycemic control, perhaps by decreasing medication adherence. Clinical assessment and intervention should encompass both types of distress, unless the goal is to narrowly target a highly specific outcome.
James E. Aikens (2012) conducted a cohort in Type 2 diabetes (n=253). Depressive symptoms and diabetes-related distress was evaluated on Medication adherence, self-care behaviors (diet, physical activity, and glucose testing), and glycemic control (HbA1c). Depressive symptoms predicted future diet, physical activity, and glucose testing (P<0.05), whereas diabetes-related distress predicted glycemic control (P<0.001) and medication adherence (P=0.011).