Key result
The co-occurrence of depression and diabetes mellitus in older adults was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 2.47; 95% CI 2.02-3.03) over a 10-year follow-up.
Why the study?
The independent effect of depression on mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus was unclear, and relevant Asian studies had provided inconsistent results.
Does the co-occurrence of depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus increase mortality in older adults?
Cohort (n=5,041)
Does the co-occurrence of depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus increase mortality in older adults?
Hazard Ratio: 2.47 (95% CI 2.02–3.03)
The co-occurrence of depression and diabetes mellitus in older adults significantly increases the risk of all-cause mortality compared to either condition alone.
Coexisting depression and DM raise mortality in older Asians; extends Western data but observational findings leave practice implications open.
Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The coexistence of depression and DM is associated with an increased risk of DM complications and functional morbidity. The independent effect of depression on mortality in patients with DM is unclear, and relevant Asian studies have provided inconsistent results. Accordingly, this study assessed the independent and additive effects of DM and depression on mortality in a nationally representative cohort of older adults in Taiwan over a 10-year observation period. Patients and Methods: A total of 5041 participants aged 50 years or older were observed between 1996 and 2007. We defined depression as a score of ≥8 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D 10) scale. Additionally, we defined participants as having type 2 DM if they had received a diagnosis of type 2 DM from a health-care provider. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to analyze predictors of mortality in depression and DM comorbidity groups. Results: During the 10-year follow-up period, 1637 deaths were documented. After adjustment for potential confounders, the hazard ratios for mortality in participants with both depression and DM, DM only, and depression only were 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.02-3.03), 1.95 (95% CI: 1.63-2.32), and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09-1.39), respectively. Conclusion: The co-occurrence of depression with DM in Asian adults increased overall mortality rates. Our results indicate that the increased mortality hazard in individuals with DM and depression was independent of sex.
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Chen et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Diabetes Mellitus and Depression (n=5,041). Depression and diabetes mellitus comorbidity vs. No depression and no diabetes mellitus was evaluated on Mortality (HR 2.47, 95% CI 2.02-3.03). The co-occurrence of depression and diabetes mellitus in older adults was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 2.47; 95% CI 2.02-3.03) over a 10-year follow-up.
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