Key result
High depression scores link to ~158% greater risk of newly diagnosed T2DM, unlike anxiety.
Why the study?
The study aimed to determine differences in mental health and poor psychosocial well-being by diabetes status in adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Cape Town.
Are depression and anxiety associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus in high-risk adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=674)
Are depression and anxiety associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus in high-risk adults?
Odds Ratio: 2.58 (95% CI 1.47–4.45)
p-value: p=<0.001
Depression, but not anxiety, is significantly associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults, highlighting the potential need for routine depression screening in diabetes management.
Depression but not anxiety was associated with new T2DM; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine any differences in mental health (depression and anxiety) and poor psychosocial well-being (social support, quality of life, perceptions of health, adverse life events, etc.) by diabetes status, in adults at high-risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, identified on the African Diabetes Risk Score in Cape Town. Design and method: In a population-based cross-sectional study, socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours (cigarette smoking, alcohol misuse, physical inactivity), and mental health and psychosocial information were collected via administered questionnaires. Depression and anxiety traits were investigated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening questions. Diabetes was diagnosed using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and defined as HbA1c >=6.5%. Multiple logistic regressions determined the associations with diabetes; the basic model comprised socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours and obesity. Mental health and psychosocial variables were entered individually in separate models. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 674 participants, the mean age(SD) among those with (n=100) and without (n=574) diabetes was 52.4(8.3) vs.51.2(9.1) years. Prevalence of depression scores >=10 (25.0% vs. 12.4%, p=0.001) and anxiety scores >=10 (13.0% vs. 9.8%, p=0.418) were higher in participants with than without diabetes. Low social support, poor quality of life and perceptions of poor health were high (>30%) in the overall sample and similar by diabetes status. In the basic regression model, increasing age and physical inactivity were significantly (p<0.05) associated with diabetes. Participants with depression scores >=10 vs. <10 were more likely to have diabetes (Odds ratio[OR]: 2.58, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.47-4.45, p<0.001). Anxiety scores >=10 vs. <10 was not associated with diabetes (OR: 1.42, 95%CI: 0.70-2.71, p=0.303). Measures of poor psychosocial well-being were not related to diabetes (increasing social support: OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.96-1.03; increasing quality of life: OR: 0.96, 95%CI: 0.73-1.26; perception of worsening health: OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 0.65-1.64). Conclusions: Depression and anxiety traits were substantial in this study and higher with diabetes. Depression traits were 2.5-fold higher in participants with than without diabetes. This suggests the need for routine screening and care of depression to be incorporated into diabetes management.
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Peer et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=674). Depression (PHQ-9 score ≥10) vs. No depression (PHQ-9 score <10) was evaluated on Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥6.5%) (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.47-4.45, p=<0.001). Depression scores ≥10 were significantly associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.47-4.45; p<0.001), whereas anxiety was not.
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