title: Depression influences the quality of diabetes-related self-management activities in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of depression and its impact on the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 184 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Depression was evaluated using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 while the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities was assessed using the Summary of Diabetes-Related Self Care Activities Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study group, 53.3% of the patients had moderate depression, 17.9% had severe depression, and 28.8% had no depression symptoms. Patient's age (P=0.024), presence of diabetic neuropathy (P<0.001), and body mass index (P=0.037) proved to be independent and significant predictors for developing depression in patients with type 2 diabetes. The severity of depression was reverse correlated with the quality of self-care activities for all the studied components: global score (r=-0.305), diet intervention score (r=-0.297), exercise score (r=-0.388), glycemic monitoring score (r=-0.055), and feet care score (r=-0.180). The presence of severe depression was associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes complications such as diabetic neuropathy and chronic kidney disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of depression is higher in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to general population. Depression has a major negative impact on the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities and, being a treatable condition, proactive screening followed in case of a positive diagnosis by adequate treatment should be performed in all patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mut-Vitcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Romulus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oancea
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioan Cosmin
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Citu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: depression; diabetes; quality of life; self-care