The relationship of depression and anxiety among diabetic patients with changes in the components of lipid profile

Introduction our study aimed to investigate the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms in diabetic patients and their association with various components of lipid profile.Methods 428 patients with diabetes mellitus joined our study. Their de- mographic and lipid profile measurements were collected. The screening questionnaire HADS was used to evaluate level of depression and anxiety. An age matched control group consisting of 50 individuals were taken and their lipid profiles and depression and anxiety levels were determined.Results it was found that 22.4% of the sample showed marked depressive symptoms and 28.5% showed marked anxiety symptoms. We found that: depression was associated strongly but not significantly (P=0.057) with lower high density lipoproteins, and associated significantly (P=0.036) with lower total cholesterol level. In addition, anxiety was associated significantly (0.000) with lower high density lipoproteins and was associated significantly (P=0.004) with higher triglycerides level. There was insignificant association between all components of lipid profile and either depression or anxiety levels in the control group.Conclusion Depressive and anxiety symptoms were common among diabetic patients. Depression was related to lower high density lipoproteins, and to lower total cholesterol level. Anxiety was strongly related to lower high density lipoproteins and to higher triglycerides level. This relationship was specific to patients with diabetes mellitus in our study .