Prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed depression among U.S. adults with diabetes: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006☆
Received 20 August 2008; received in revised form 20 August 2008; accepted 6 November 2008. published online 29 December 2008.
Abstract
Aims
Many people with depression may be undiagnosed and thus untreated. We sought to assess the prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed depression among adults with diabetes.
Methods
Data of U.S. adults from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2006 were analyzed. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of correlates for undiagnosed depression.
Results
The unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalences of undiagnosed depression were 8.7% and 9.2%. About 45% of diabetes patients with depression were undiagnosed. After adjustments for all correlates, female gender (PR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.8), poor or fair health (PR, 2.8; 95% CI: 2.1–3.6), lack of social and emotional support (PR, 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8–3.3), life dissatisfaction (PR, 3.5; 95% CI: 2.2–5.5), use of special equipment (PR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.8), no leisure-time physical activity (PR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–1.9), and comorbid cardiovascular disease (PR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–1.9) were associated with undiagnosed depression.
Conclusions
Undiagnosed depression among people with diabetes was common. Because depression is associated with increased risk of diabetes-related complications, early detection of depression is needed in clinical settings.
aDivision of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
bInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
Corresponding author at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K66, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States. Tel.: +1 770 488 5494; fax: +1 770 488 8150.
☆ The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.