Does the Interaction Between Alcohol Use and Depression Exacerbate Hyperglycemia Risk? A Cross-Sectional Study Beyond Additive Effects

Background and Objectives: This study investigated whether the interaction between heavy alcohol use and depression amplifies the risk of hyperglycemia in psychiatric patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 172 patients (aged 18-65) hospitalized at the "Elisabeta Doamna" Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, Romania. The data included fasting blood glucose, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Results: Moderate positive correlations were observed between depression scores and blood glucose (r = 0.44) and between alcohol consumption and blood glucose (r = 0.43). The interaction term (BDI × AUDIT) was statistically significant in multiple regression (β = 0.012, p = 0.001), and the model explained 39.1% of glucose variability. Logistic regression analysis revealed that neither high alcohol consumption (OR = 1.38, p = 0.441) nor severe depression alone (OR = 1.30, p = 0.582) were significantly associated with hyperglycemia. However, their interaction demonstrated a strong and statistically significant effect (OR = 19.3, 95% CI: 3.22-115.81, p = 0.001). The prevalence of hyperglycemia reached 95.8% in patients with both risk factors. Conclusions: The combined presence of high alcohol consumption and severe depression significantly increases the risk of hyperglycemia. These findings highlight the importance of integrated screening and interventions in psychiatric settings.